The outbreak is spread across 19 states – from Maine to Washington state. Dr. Randy Martin tells us how to keep safe.

Every year, almost a million and a half people in the U.S. become sick from salmonella – a common bacteria that, in the vast majority of cases, occurs as a food borne illness, causing the stomach flu that lasts a few days – and then you get well on your own.

Now, the CDC is stating that 172 people in more than 19 states have developed a case of salmonella – some of the cases right here in Georgia.

And, importantly, as typical with most salmonella infection, nobody has died from the outbreak.

There are nearly 2,500 different types of salmonella, and the culprit in this recent outbreak is one called Salmonella Typhimurium.

Ninety-five percent of all salmonella cases are food-borne, with the chief culprits being contaminated foods like undercooked meats, raw eggs or even produce.

You can also get it from handling infected pets – especially reptiles like turtles, tortoises, iguanas and baby chicks.

If you become infected with salmonella, most people develop abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting – and sometimes a fever and headache.

The most likely to become infected are under the age of 20 or over the age of 70.

Again, it’s important to note that the vast majority of people get well on their own in about 3 to 7 days. The current outbreak is really not anything that anybody needs to panic about, because very few people in each state have become sick. But it does remind us that these are things to do to avoid salmonella and other food-borne infections.

Wash your produce thoroughly, cook all meats well, avoid eating raw eggs and egg products that are undercooked, keep you hands and food surfaces clean, and if you do have pets like turtles, lizards and even snakes, make sure you and your children wash your hands well after handling them.