Salmonella is a microscopic bacterium that lives in the intestinal tracts of animals and people. An infection, usually transmitted by contaminated food, can make you quite sick.
Many raw foods contain salmonella, including uncooked chicken and other forms of poultry. But the good news is that proper cooking usually kills it, says the CDC.
Salmonella also can be found in beef, milk and eggs. There’s no treatment for salmonella infections, but they usually run their course in five to seven days, reports HealthDay News.
To prevent them, wash your hands after preparing food, and don’t eat raw or uncooked meat or eggs. Also make sure you wash your hands after handling certain reptiles, such as small turtles sold in pet stores. The turtles’ feces often harbor the bacteria.