Canada’s public health agency says it is investigating an apparent link between a salmonella outbreak and contact with snakes and feeder rodents.
As of March 19, there were 70 confirmed cases of salmonella linked to a single outbreak, according to the agency.
“Ten individuals have been hospitalized. One person has died and provincial public health partners have confirmed that salmonella was the cause of death,” it wrote in an advisory sent to CTVNews.ca.
Cases have been identified in eight provinces: B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Many of those who became sick had direct or indirect contact with the animals beforehand, officials said. Some did not touch the snakes or rodents directly, but lived in the same homes where they were kept.
“A single common supplier of snakes or feeder rodents has not been identified,” read the release.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.
