A salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef has now spread to five states, including Illinois.

A total of 16 people have become ill in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Arizona.  At least seven have needed hospitalization, but no deaths are reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the cases have been linked to last week’s recall of more than one thousand pounds of ground beef from two Michigan businesses, Troy-based Gab Halal Foods and Sterling Heights-based Jouni Meats.

The symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.  It can cause serious, and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.