By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Swedish Public Health Agency reports investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup. 14 cases were reported between April 13 – 24 in 10 different regions in Sweden.

Image/CDC

The cases have been linked using whole genome sequencing (analysis of the bacterium’s genome).

The ages vary from 0 to 91 years and ten of the cases are women.

Affected infection control units, municipalities, the National Food Administration and the Swedish Public Health Agency are jointly investigating the outbreak to identify the source of infection that is suspected to be a food that has been widely distributed in Sweden. The investigation interviews the cases of what they ate the week before falling ill, with the aim of identifying common suspicious foods.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other parts of the body.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.