Salmonella Habitat Information

Salmonella is a bacterium that causes diseases in people. Common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and stomach pain that occur one to three days after a salmonella infection. Protecting yourself from salmonella includes washing your hands with soap and water especially after contact with feces and cooking your food completely.

Habitat

• Salmonella lives in the intestinal track of humans and animals.

Transmission

• Salmonella is transmitted through the fecal contamination of water or food.

Environment

• Water, soil and food plants may be contaminated with salmonella through human and animal feces. Salmonella can survive for several weeks in water and for several years in the soil.

Disease

• Salmonella infections can turn into salmonellosis enteric fever, which is typhoid, caused by salmonella invading the bloodstream. Salmonella can evolve into acute gastroenteritis caused by contaminated food.

Sources

• Reptiles, baby chicks and ducklings are likely to carry and spread salmonella. Food sources include raw meat, poultry, ground beef, eggs and unpasteurized milk.