The germ is a group of bacteria that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals. It has been known to cause illness for more than 100 years.

The germ is a group of bacteria that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals. It has been known to cause illness for more than 100 years.
Most persons infected develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Some diarrhea is so severe that hospitalization is needed, however.
The infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other parts of the body. It can cause death unless it is treated promptly with antibiotics.
Ohio has about 1,300 salmonella cases per year, most of them random.
When a person becomes ill, a stool sample is taken and sent to a laboratory. The county health department, Ohio Department of Health and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are notified through a national network of public health laboratories.
Children, older people and those with impaired immune systems such as those with cancer and HIV are susceptible and need to be more concerned.