Children’s sickness linked to calves and pets

More than 40 per cent of the 40 Canadians recently sickened by a dangerous strain of Salmonella are children under the age of five who had exposure to calves or raw pet food, reports the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Fourteen are in Ontario. Thirteen needed hospital treatment.

The report covers cases from July to September and the Public Health Agency said the situation is ongoing.

This strain of Salmonella is resistant to most antibiotics.

The agency said pets that consume food contaminated with the XDR strain of Salmonella can pass it on to children or other people and infected people can also pass it on.