The news of salmonella infected-food products terrified countless consumers worldwide. This recent issue disrupted many operations of both public markets and large food manufacturers worldwide. It even caused the cancellation of business permits of several large food processing industries. The need for people to be oriented with the said bacteria is now viewed as a vital task, in order to safeguard health of people and prevent further damages in the future.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that draws on organic compounds as their main source of energy. This infectious disease can be transferred from one person to another and it can also be acquired through ingestion of infected food products.

Persons infected with Salmonella usually experience diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps lasting up to12 to 72 hours, subsequent to the time of infection. A rarer breed of Salmonella can even lead to typhoid fever, a fatal disease. The World Health Organization reports that half of the total patients suffering from typhoid fever die annually. Long term effects of Salmonella infection includes: pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. Unfortunately there is still no vaccine available to cure the illness.

So, in considering this, how can people avoid acquiring Salmonella and contracting typhoid fever? Below are some helpful tips.

1. Never eat raw food such as egg, poultry or meat. Make sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked and does not have a pink color in the middle.
2. Knives, cutting boards, counters and other kitchen utensils should be washed and cleaned well to steer clear of cross contamination.
3. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed prior to consumption.
4. Don’t let children handle chicks or young birds in general. As they are more exposed to the threat of the disease because of relatively weaker immune system.
5. Always practice proper hand washing.

Always keep in mind the following guidelines and never take the value of your health lightly. Keep your guard up whether it is against Salmonella or some other disease-causing agent. Remember that prevention is always better than cure and health is ensured with its practice.