The turtle ban has prevented 100,000 salmonella infections a year, the government says.

He also said hospital laboratory tests failed to detect 12 percent of salmonella infections, which can be deadly.

The most recent case of salmonella infection had been detected mid-2012 in seven EU countries.

"These studies show that food animals are a major source of antimicrobial-resistant salmonella infections in humans," the report said.

Most people recover from salmonella infection in four to seven days without treatment.

Health officials in Minnesota said yesterday that cheese may be a more important source of salmonella infections than scientists now believe.

Most salmonella infections appear as sporadic cases for which no source is identified.

The researchers say their work may eventually lead to new ways to treat and control salmonella infections in people.

Fresh produce is catching up with poultry as a cause of salmonella infections.

Children, particularly those under age 5 years, are most vulnerable to salmonella infection.