Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium associated with feeder rodents

In December 2012, an increase in human Salmonella Typhimurium cases was identified in the province of Ontario, Canada launching an outbreak investigation. The outbreak spanned 3 years (2012-2014), with 134 cases reported from five Canadian provinces. There was a substantial burden of illness among children: 45% of cases were children 12 years old or under, and 23% of cases were under 5 years old. Epidemiologic, traceback and laboratory findings linked this outbreak to feeder rodents (used to feed snakes) supplied by a network of rodent breeders in Ontario. Cases likely acquired their illness through either direct or indirect contact with feeder rodents. This investigation not only contributes to the weight of evidence on the risk that feeder rodents pose, but also underscores the importance of investigating indirect animal contact and associated risks, especially for high-risk individuals.