Health officials in St. Clair County, Illinois are investigating a Salmonella Newport (PFGE pattern of JJPX01.0381) cluster in individuals who attended the Belleville Chili Cook-off on October 8, 2016.
While the number of those infected is not available, health officials say those affected live in multiple Illinois counties of St. Clair, Madison, and Lake, and one ill person lives in Missouri.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Health officials say if you attended the Belleville Chili Cook-off and have experienced these symptoms, please see your doctor.
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