Salmonella scare in Chico

Chico is apparently ground zero in an ongoing investigation by the Butte County Public Health Department into a salmonella outbreak.

Health officials, who say all of the seven cases reported to the agency since mid-May have been in Chico, are now attempting to hone in on the source of the illnesses. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food-poisoning. It occurs in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes unwashed fruits and veggies.

According to Health Officer Mark Lundberg, three people have been hospitalized from the food-borne illness. In a typical year, about 32 cases are reported countywide. For more information on food-borne illnesses, visit www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/cder/foodborne.html.