Salmonellosis is a gut sickness caused by the Salmonella bacteria. Many different animals can carry these germs, including cats and dogs. People most commonly get the sickness by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with the bacteria. Salmonella is also a zoonotic disease, which can spread between people and animals. When people get Salmonella from animals, it is usually because they did not wash their hands properly after handling an animal carrying the bacteria or items in the animal’s environment (such as their food or bedding).
This fact sheet was developed by students in Macquarie University’s 2022 Medical Sciences Capstone/PACE subject major industry partnership project. The following references were provided by the students who developed the fact sheet:
Health NSW. 2022. Salmonella Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/salmonella.aspx.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2019. Get the Facts About Salmonella. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-about-salmonella.
World Health Organisation (WHO). 2018. Salmonella (Non-Typhoidal). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/salmonella-(non-typhoidal).
