A NATIONWIDE SALMONELLA OUTBREAK IS TRACED TO A POULTRY HATCHERY IN PORTALES, NEW MEXICO. PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN PAUL ETTESTAD SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 300 CASES IN 37 STATES SO FAR, INCLUDING 19 IN NEW MEXICO. HE SAYS A MAJORITY OF THE CASES WERE IN CHILDREN 10 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER. HE SAYS SEVERAL CASES INVOLVED CHILDREN RANGING FROM THREE MONTHS OLD TO 13 MONTHS.
ETTESTAD SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO FATALITIES BUT AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED, INCLUDING FOUR IN NEW MEXICO.
