Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on September 8, 2026
Festival-goers at Axtell Days festival may have picked up a harmful stomach bug while partaking in festivities says Marshall County Health Department. State and local health officials are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to the festival, which took place in early August.
They are asking for the public’s help in identifying a source for this outbreak.
The Axtell Days festival took place this year between August 6 and August 9, 2026 in downtown Axtell, Kansas. Along with several activities (chalk the block, cornhole tournament, glow walk/run, bicycle fun run, a parade, kids activities, a pickleball tournament, what they refer to as a “kid pedal tractor pull,” BINGO, a concert, and more), food was prominent in the festival festivities.
Salmonella outbreaks associated with fairs and festivals are often associated with farm animals/petting zoos or food served at the event. It seems that several community style meals were scheduled throughout the event.
Thursday, August 6th there was an “outdoor taco bar at Ace’s.”
Friday, August 7th there was a “BBQ Meal by AHS Football Team.”
Saturday, August 8th included both “Breakfast (burritos and cinnamon rolls) and Lunch served by St. Michaels CYO at firehouse’ and “Firemen Dinner at Legion’ which included “smoked chicken quarters/Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and Methodist Church homemade icecream.”
Following this event, the Marshall County Health Department received reports of Salmonella illnesses. Prompting an outbreak investigation.
So far, at least five Salmonella cases have been confirmed. Two resulted in hospitalizations. Jill Bronaugh with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said that multiple other people also reported feeling sick after attending the event. It is unclear whether others were also tested for foodborne illness.
“The outbreak was identified on Aug. 18,” Bronaugh said in a statement. “KDHE staff have conducted interviews with the five cases and obtained information from the event organizers regarding what foods were served, where they were sourced from, and how they were prepared.”
The health department is asking for help in narrowing down the source of this outbreak.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment has created a quick survey to assist the outbreak investigation.
Both attendees who became ill as well as those who did not become ill are encouraged to respond to the survey, which according to the Department should only take around 10 minutes.
The questionnaire is completely confidential: “All information collected about your health is private and confidential; the only persons who will have access to this information will be public health staff from KDHE and MCHD who work on this investigation.”
Salmonella is a type of bacteria. A microscopic germ that can cause anywhere from mild to severe illness.
Common symptoms include:
Most people experience symptoms in as little as six hours and up to six days after exposure. In some cases, illness onset could be much longer.
Severity and length of illness often varies from person to person. However, most people experience mild illness that passes quickly. Others, on the other hand, may experience severe illness lasting weeks or even months after initial symptoms.
Most people feel better within a week (four to seven days).
Most of the time Salmonella bacteria are limited to the intestinal tract. However, in some cases, the bacteria can breach the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream capillaries and veins found there. When this happens, bacteria may infect the urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and even the nervous system.
Common Salmonella complications include reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and bacteremia that can affect other parts of the body.
Reactive arthritis, a condition affecting the collagen in the joints, eyes, and urethra, is a common complication. This type of infection causes joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and pain during urination. Reactive arthritis symptoms may last for months or even years in some people.
Irritable bowel syndrome is another common complication of Salmonella illness. In some cases, it can take quite some time before bowel habits return to normal.
Bacteremia associated with Salmonella infections can affect many different tissues in the body. Resulting in a variety of infections.
Potential bacteremia infections include:
Certain groups of people have conditions or susceptibilities that make them more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those more vulnerable to Salmonella infection include:
Those more likely to experience sever symptoms include:
While most people do not need medical intervention and are not prescribed antibiotic treatment, those in the higher risk group are more likely to receive treatment.
If you became sick after eating food at the Axtell Days festival, there are a few things you should keep in mind to help yourself and others while this investigation is ongoing.
If you became sick after eating at the Axtell Days festival, the local health department urges you to report your illness. Even if your symptoms were mild. The investigation needs all of the data possible to better understand what went wrong and how people became sick.
Salmonella illness symptoms can cause dehydration. A complication that can create additional problems. Drink plenty of fluids, reduce caffeine and sugary drinks, and replace electrolytes.
If you have been seriously impacted by your Salmonella illness linked to Axtell Days festival, it is a good idea to get advice from an experienced Salmonella lawyer. Medical bills, missed work, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness add up. Who is responsible for those expenses? A Salmonella lawyer can help you file a legal claim to recover these expenditures.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your situation with you to help determine if you have a legal case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)