By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Ukraine health officials reported recently that during the first eight months of 2020, the country has seen 16 salmonella outbreaks, including four in Zaporizhia oblast, two in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast and one each in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zakarpattia, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Cherkasy oblasts and Kyiv.

Salmonella bacteria (red)/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

In total, 2402 salmonella cases have been reported, Officials say the incidence rate per 100,000 population is 5.7, which is 41% lower than in the same period last year.

Salmonellosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium of the genus Salmonella.

The severity of the disease depends on the serotype, the susceptibility of the population and a number of other factors.

The source of the pathogen – animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, waterfowl, chickens, reptiles, cats, dogs, domestic rodents), people with salmonellosis or healthy carriers.

Carrier status can last from a few days to several years.

The mechanism of infection is fecal-oral. Infection occurs through food, water and household routes.

Salmonellosis has a summer-autumn seasonality, which is associated with the activation during this period of the mechanism of bacterial transmission.

The incidence in cities is 2 times higher than in villages.

The incubation period ranges from 6 hours to 2-3 days.

The disease can be mild. However, in some cases, disease-related dehydration can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of salmonellosis: fever, headache, weakness, malaise, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Prevention of salmonellosis should include a wide range of veterinary, sanitary and anti-epidemic measures.