Jason Reed / Reuters Eggs are pictured for sale at a Washington supermarket, August 23, 2010.

The outbreak of salmonella across 18 American states reportedly contains strains that are resistant to antibiotics. According to experts, about 42% of the individuals infected with the salmonella have been hospitalized, which is twice as much as average.

“You would expect about 20% hospitalizations with salmonella Heidelberg,” Centers for Disease Control spokeswoman Barbara Reynolds told USA Today.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a warning over the outbreak, which is associated with raw chicken products. According to the agency, more than 250 people have fallen ill due to the outbreak, most of them in California. Earlier this week, CDC recalled 30 furloughed employees in order to help address the growing scourge.

[USA Today]