Indiana State health officials over the last two weeks reported that the source of the recent salmonella outbreak as the Wal-Mart on 1133 North Emerson in Greenwood. The deli and bakery departments were identified as the source of the recent salmonella outbreak in northern Johnson and southern Marion counties.  The likely cause of the outbreak was determined to be ill workers handling food.

Currently, 84 cases of salmonella have been reported to be part of the outbreak, which began in May 2006.  Marler Clark has been contacted by over a dozen sickened individuals.  A lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of one family.  To follow that litigations progress, see www.salmonellalitigation.com.

Wal-Mart officials report that all employees from the deli and bakery areas have been moved to other parts of the store until the investigation is complete. They have also discarded all possibly contaminated foods, and cleaned and sanitized both departments.

Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is the second most common form of bacterial foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are foodborne-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. Salmonellosis is more common in the warmer months of the year.  For more information on Salmonella, visit www.about-salmonella.com.

Marler Clark has been involved in litigation stemming from numerous Salmonella outbreaks across the country.  For a listing of past and current cases, see:  http://www.marlerclark.com/news-salmonella.htm