Based on a description of symptoms by a contemporary writer, Alexander the Great may have died of a Salmonella infection.
Prince Albert died (1861) of Salmonella poisoning.
In Victorian times, estimates are 50,000 cases per year.
In 1985, 16000 cases in six states were caused by contaminated milk from one Chicago dairy.
In 2002, 32,308 reported cases in 50 states (of course many unreported).
Salmonella strains are gaining in antibiotic resistance.
Optimum temperature for Salmonella growth is 98.6 F (body temperature).
Heating to 57-60 C (134-140 F) destroys the organisms.
A related species of Salmonella causes the much more deadly Typhoid Fever. This was a major cause of death in the Boer War.

A very detailed report on all types of Salmonella from Columbia University-
www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/courses/g4158/presentations/2004/Salmonella.ppt

Salmonella has been with us for a long time. With mass-marketed foods, tracing the source takes careful detective work, and it may be months before the cause is found.
I remember, a few years back, Mexican strawberries were blamed in press reports. The actual cause was elsewhere, but by the time the report came out, the press had lost interest- so Mexican berries are still cited as the cause in blogs, etc.