Salmonella spike at Darwin workers' camp

The Northern Territory Department of Health is currently investigating a recent increase in Salmonella infections across Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area. The Department of Health would normally investigate 4–8 cases of Salmonella infection a week in the Darwin urban region but is currently trying to confirm the cause of more than 50 cases.

The Centre for Disease Control and the Environmental Health branch are working to identify the source of the infection and whether there is a common food source among the people affected by Salmonella.

The head of surveillance from the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Peter Markey, said, “Given the number of cases we’ve been alerted to, understandably, we are very keen to quickly identify the source of the problem.

“This cluster is likely to be due to contaminated food and our investigation includes interviewing people affected, inspecting food premises and taking food samples in an effort to identify the source of the current outbreak,” Dr Markey said.

Contaminated raw foods are a common cause of Salmonella infection. Potential food sources include eggs, raw meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Condiments like spices and sauces are also potential sources of the infection.

Environmental factors including geckos, frogs and family pets can also be a possible sources of infection, particularly among infants and people participating in activities like camping or those doing dirty jobs around the home or garden.

“This type of Salmonella has also been increasing in other states and so this cluster may be linked to a national increase.

“But our investigation will continue to assess all possible sources both inside and outside the territory,” Dr Markey said.

At least 10 people at the Inpex workers’ camp presented with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea in the three days between Saturday and Monday. But while CDC is swabbing at the camp not all cases have had an association with the camp, and it is quite possible that an ingredient used at the camp was also used in other locales across the territory.