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A human pathogen is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus or bacterium that causes disease in humans. Salmonella is an example of a human pathogen. Salmonella is a bacterium that is found in the intestines of animals, especially in pigs and poultry. Salmonella can be spread through feces. For example, if contaminated feces gets into the water that is used to irrigate crops, those crops can carry the bacteria to the market. Any raw of under cooked animal product can carry salmonella, including meat, unpasteurized milk or cheese, and eggs.
The symptoms of salmonella usually occur 12-72 hours after infection, and can last for 4-7 days. These symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes fever. Usually, salmonella poisoning will go away on its own, without treatment. However, if the infection does not go away after more than seven days, you should call your doctor. Salmonella is rarely fatal, but if the bacteria enters the bloodstream, it can be life threatening. You can prevent yourself from salmonella by killing the bacteria by thoroughly cooking poultry, ground beef, and eggs. You can also avoid raw food, and wash your hands and anything that comes in contact with raw meat while cooking.