Austin Public Health (APH) is advising residents to take steps to prevent foodborne and waterborne illnesses as the holidays approach. The city has reported an increase in cases of salmonellosis, a bacterial infection, and norovirus, a contagious virus. These illnesses often spread through contaminated food, poor hand hygiene, and improper food handling or storage.
Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, highlighted the need for food safety during gatherings. She recommended that people stay home if they are sick and follow safe food preparation practices to reduce the risk of illness at events.
Foodborne illnesses happen when people eat food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 48 million Americans get foodborne illnesses each year. These cases lead to thousands of deaths and high healthcare costs…