While not directly addressing the recent outbreak at a Ballarat food outlet, revealed by The Courier yesterday, physician Dr James Hurley said salmonella was a serious infection which could cause significant health problems.

He said salmonella was a gastro-intestinal infection which often begins as a “really bad tummy bug”.

“Symptoms are usually stomach and abdominal pains, fevers, diarrhoea and vomiting (which) can last for a day or two,” he said.

“Most times it does resolve by itself — it might take a few days but it does resolve.”

Dr Hurley said salmonella can be acquired from a number of sources.

“Firstly, we look at various food sources, but it can be acquired from pets and other unusual sources,” he said.

“Some foods are more of a concern than others, particularly chicken, meats, eggs and occasionally dairy products.”

Dr Hurley said salmonella was “pretty uncommon”, but said cases tended to spike at this time of year.

“In the summer months it tends to become more common for a number of reasons; people are out and about, eating food they would not usually eat and they may not be thinking about washing their hands,” he said.

“If you think you might be ill, certainly consult your general practitioner to get the appropriate tests.”

While no vaccine is available, Dr Hurley said there were a number of measures people could take to avoid contracting the infection.

“We always look out for people who are in the food-preparation business, but even people at home in their own kitchens — they need to take care with preparing their foods and cooking their meals,” he said.

“Washing hands after handling pets, particularly chicks and reptiles, is very important.”

Dr Hurley said when an outbreak occurs, the Health Department works to find everyone who has been affected and tries to narrow down the source.

“Even when they find the source, sometimes it can be from a supplier further up the chain,” he said.

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