Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu infections in people, primarily infants, linked to recalled dry pet food

Seven cases from seven states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a pet food safety alert after reporting a multistate Salmonella Kiambu outbreak linked to Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food, manufactured by Mid America Pet Food.

Image/FDA

Seven cases have been reported from seven states—Alabama, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota and Oklahoma—One person has been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. 

Most of the sick people (6) in this outbreak are infants under age one. Young children are more likely to get a severe Salmonella infection because their immune systems are still developing. 

Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that a specific lot of Victor brand Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food is contaminated with Salmonella and has made people sick. The manufacturer, Mid America Pet Food, has recalled this and all other brands of pet food they make (HERE, HERE and HERE).

People in this outbreak got sick from touching recalled dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained the dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed the dog food.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people or their family about pets or pet food that the sick person may have come into contact with before they got sick. Of the five people interviewed, all (100%) reported contact with a dog or having a dog in the household, and three (60%) fed their dogs Victor brand dog food. One person reported feeding the Hi-Pro Plus product, and the other two did not remember the specific type of Victor brand product they fed their dogs.

The CDC offered the following advise for pet owners:

• Throw away recalled pet food in a sealed trash bag and place it in a sealed trash can.   

  • Don’t let children touch the recalled pet food.    

  • Don’t feed recalled pet food to pets or other animals.    

  • Don’t donate recalled pet food.   

• Clean surfaces and items, including pet items, that might have touched the recalled pet food. Wash your hands after feeding your pets or touching pet items.  

Salmonella Symptoms in People and Pets:  

• Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.    

  • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.    

  • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.   

• Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.    

• Most pets don’t get sick from Salmonella, but they can spread the germ through their poop and saliva.    

• Pets with a health problem and young pets are more likely to get sick from Salmonella. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite, and decreased activity level.