Federal health officials have discovered a new Salmonella outbreak, but neither the FDA nor the CDC have released specific details about the situation.

The agencies have not posted outbreak announcements yet, but the Food and Drug Administration added it to this week’s CORE outbreak table. In a statement with the table the FDA reported that the agency has initiated traceback efforts but has not yet identified a source of the Salmonella Weltevreden illnesses.

A spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the CDC is aware of and investigating the outbreak, but said no further details would be released at this time.

Neither agency would say wher the six infected people live. Neither has posted an outbreak or investigation notice.

“In the early stages of an investigation, before a specific food is linked to an outbreak, the goal is to provide early awareness to consumers and encourage them to focus on general food safety practices. The reason state information isn’t available at this time is because we do not want people to infer that the outbreaks are limited to specific areas in the United States, when that may not be the case,” the CDC spokeswoman told Food Safety News.

“CDC includes state specific information in Investigation Notices to provide information about an outbreak not yet linked to a source, or an outbreak linked to a general food type or category of food, rather than a specific food. When specific consumer guidance can be developed (such as avoiding a specific contaminated food), FDA and CDC will publish outbreak advisories communicating that guidance.”

about Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.