Two different Salmonella outbreaks across Canada and the US have been found to be connected to pet food.
Salmonella Outbreak in US
Across the US, there were seven cases of the infection across seven different states that have been linked to the outbreak. These Salmonella infections took place from last January to August. One of the cases required hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.
Out of the seven people, six of them were infants. The other one was more than 65 years old.
It is important to note, however, that since it may take a couple of weeks before Salmonella infection symptoms surface, the actual number of infected people could be higher than the reported count.
Authorities held five interviews with the people who were found to be positive with the bacteria or their families. Doing so enabled them to discover that all five came into contact with a dog or had a pet dog at home. Three of the five interviewees fed a specific dog food brand to the their dog, the Victor brand, while one recounted buying a Hi-Pro Plus product.
The researchers then performed DNA samplings on the bacteria that infected each person. They then found out that each microbe was actually closely connected to each other. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this shows that the people involved in this specific outbreak got sick because of the same product.
The salmonella found in a specific Victor bran Hi-Pro Plus dog food brand was found to closely match the strain of the outbreak. This entails that the bacteria could have infected the people as they touched the dog food, the dog bowls that held the food, or the saliva or poop of the dogs who ate the food.
While pets typically do not get sick from Salmonella, they can foster the spread of the bacteria.
With this, Mid America Pet Food, the manufacturer behind the specific dog food, has recalled the cat and dog food brands it manufactured that falls under the "best by" date prior to October 31, 2023.
Canada Salmonella Outbreak
On the other hand, across Canada, authorities are looking into the outbreak of Salmonella that is described to be extensively drug-resistant. The bacteria has affected at least 40 individuals from six provinces.
Similar to the cases in the US, several of the reportedly ill were below five years old. A total of 13 people had to be hospitalized because of the condition. No deaths were reported.
The cases of this outbreak in Canada surfaced from July 2020 all the way to September 2023. Among these cases, 13 happened within the past year.
At present, there have been two likely sources that have been identified. These are exposure to raw pet food and cattle contact, especially with calves. The raw pet food common supplier has not yet been distinguished. Further infection sources could be revealed as the investigation goes on.
The Public Health Agency of Canada explains that the outbreak serves as a reminder that the bacteria can be contained in raw pet food and several animal species. With this, it is important to have proper practices for food handling when storing, preparing, or cooking raw pet food. Good hand hygiene is also crucial.
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