Salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers sickens 162

Cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella bacteria have been tied to an outbreak that has affected at least 162 people in the United States.

Of these, 54 people have been hospitalized and none have died, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday (June 5). 

The agency noted that the total number of sick people is likely higher than reported. That's because some people recover from Salmonella infection without medical care, and it can take weeks to deduce that confirmed cases of the illness are connected to an ongoing outbreak.

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. 

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Investigators are now working to figure out if the Braenderup outbreak — which has sickened at least 158 people so far — is also tied to cucumbers.

"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."