The salmonella outbreak linked to a premade chicken salad that was purchased from grocery stores has expanded, warns the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been a few different sources of salmonella outbreaks reported this year, but the cases linked to the chicken salad have so far caused the most number of infections and hospitalizations.

Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Chicken Salad Expands

Last month, the CDC announced a salmonella outbreak linked to the premade chicken salad by Triple T Specialty Meats. At the time, 65 people were reported to be infected by the food-borne pathogen that causes fever and diarrhea.

The report pushed Triple T to recall over 20,000 pounds of the potentially salmonella-contaminated chicken salad that was made between Jan. 2 and Feb. 7. The chicken salad was sold in deli counters of the Fareway grocery store in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Unfortunately, the salmonella outbreak linked to the chicken salad has since worsened. According to the CDC, 105 more victims have been reported, bringing the total number of people infected with the germ from consuming the chicken salad to 170. The salmonella cases have also expanded to Texas and Indiana, where there have been a total of 62 hospitalizations reported.

The CDC believes that the additional victims were able to purchase the salmonella-contaminated chicken salad from Fareway grocery stores before they were recalled.

According to the CDC, the number of people infected with salmonella may increase even further. This is because of the expected delay of between two to four weeks when a person falls ill and when the infection is reported.

Customers who purchased chicken salad from Fareway grocery stores should check if the batch was produced from Jan. 2 to Feb. 7. If it is impossible to determine, it would be best to throw out the food to avoid potential salmonella infection.

Salmonella Outbreaks In 2018

In February, the CDC linked another salmonella outbreak to supplements made out of the controversial herb kratom, with 28 cases across 20 states. The FDA has since recalled and razed kratom products, but not just for the potential salmonella infections.

Studies have proven that kratom may be just as addictive as other opioids, and may lead to similar effects such as overdose and death.

Earlier this week, guinea pigs were also linked by the CDC to a salmonella outbreak, with nine cases dating back to 2015. Guinea pig owners are advised to always wash their hands after holding their pets.