The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health departments determined that of reported Salmonella case-patients, illnesses began on or after February 27, 2011. The last Salmonella case associated with the ground turkey outbreak occurred on September 13, 2011. One death was reported in California.
The outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics; this antibiotic resistance may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals. Among the 94 ill persons with available information, 37 (39%) were hospitalized.