The McHenry County Department of Health is encouraging residents to take common-sense precautions to avoid gastrointestinal illnesses more commonly experienced during summer.

The MCDH has seen a threefold increase in salmonella cases in June over May. Diseases such as salmonella, campylobacteriosis and cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming or handling contaminated or undercooked food, drinking contaminated water or contact with infected animals or animal waste.

Symptoms of these infections include diarrhea, which may be bloody, and also may include cramps, abdominal pain and sometimes fever within times varying from days to weeks after exposure to the source. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. The illnesses can last a few days to a month or longer, depending on the illness and the individual’s immune system. Those who believe they have symptoms should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Most people with the above illnesses will recover on their own and should drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are occasionally used to treat severe cases or people who are at high risk for severe disease.
Taking the following simple steps are the best ways to prevent infection:

• Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or untreated water from lakes, rivers or ponds.
• Always practice good hand hygiene, especially when handling puppies or kittens with diarrhea, or backyard chickens.
• Protect young children who often put items and dirty hands into their mouths.
• Wash hands before, during and after preparing food.
• Cook all raw meats to proper temperature.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.
• Use soap and hot water to wash cutting boards, counters or utensils used to prepare raw poultry, seafood or meat to prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
• If you are symptomatic, avoid handling food or caring for others.
• Keep up to date with food recalls; recent recalls have been issued for items including eggs, whole cucumbers and pistachio ice cream.
• See your healthcare provider if any symptoms become severe such as diarrhea lasting more than two days, bloody poop, fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, or signs of dehydration such as dry mouth/extreme thirst, urinating less/dark urine/dry diapers, crying without tears, or confusion.

For more information about ways to prevent foodborne illness, please view our Food Protection Program educational materials.