Cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella bacteria have been tied to an outbreak that has affected at least 162 people in the United States.
The specific type of Salmonella linked to cucumbers is called Salmonella Africana. In addition, health officials are investigating a second outbreak tied to a slightly different form of the bacteria, called Salmonella Braenderup. Under a microscope, the structures that appear on the surfaces of these two types of bacteria look different, enabling scientists to tell them apart.
"The two outbreaks share several similarities, including where and when illnesses occurred and the demographics of ill people," the CDC reported."Information will be provided on the source of the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak as it becomes available." Most people recover from Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, without antibiotics, but others face a high risk of severe infections and may need treatment. These people include those with weakened immune systems, infants, older people, and middle-aged and older adults with conditions such as heart disease.