A total of 129 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 34 states.
Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that ground turkey is the likely source of this outbreak.
Contaminated ground turkey is being recalled from grocery stores but may still be in consumers’ homes.
Consumers should check their homes for recalled ground turkey products and not eat them; restaurant and food service operators should not serve them.
The outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics. This antibiotic resistance may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.
Timeline of Events: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Associated with Ground Turkey—United States, 2011:
