A major foodborne illness outbreak has sickened more than 300 inmates at the Broome County Correctional Facility in New York, with health officials now confirming Salmonella as the cause of the illnesses.
According to a joint statement released on May 27 by the Broome County Health Department and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, multiple laboratory test results identified Salmonella bacteria in connection with the outbreak spreading throughout the correctional facility.
The incident began on May 25, when several inmates first reported symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps to medical staff at the jail. Within the following 24 hours, the number of affected individuals rapidly increased, with more than 140 inmates seeking medical attention for similar gastrointestinal symptoms.
Officials initially suspected norovirus because of the speed at which the illness appeared to spread. However, laboratory testing later confirmed that the outbreak was caused by Salmonella, a bacterial pathogen commonly associated with contaminated food.
Authorities stated that over 300 individuals within the correctional facility have now been affected. Salmonella infections can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and may pose serious health risks for vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals and those with weakened immune systems.
Medical teams are currently focusing on hydration treatment to prevent dehydration among infected inmates. High-risk patients are also receiving antibiotics when necessary under the supervision of healthcare providers and public health officials.
The Broome County Health Department, the New York State Department of Health, and the facility’s food service contractor, Trinity Services Group, are actively investigating the source of contamination.
As part of the investigation:
Officials noted that the correctional facility follows a policy of storing meal samples for five days after service specifically for situations involving suspected food contamination.
A full inspection of the correctional facility kitchen was completed on May 26. According to authorities, inspectors found no major violations involving food preparation practices, equipment, or kitchen facilities during the inspection.
Despite the absence of major violations, investigators continue working to determine the exact source of the Salmonella contamination.
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide. Infection symptoms typically include:
Symptoms usually develop within 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and can last several days. Severe cases may require hospitalization, especially among young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.
Health officials continue monitoring the outbreak while awaiting additional test results from food and environmental samples.
Source: US FDA