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A new salmonella scare spreading across the country has hit the North Texas area.

So far, there have been 388 cases reported in 42 states. Five of those cases were in Texas, including one involving a young girl that was reported in Tarrant County.

Meanwhile, health officials are still clueless as to what type of food or foods could be causing the outbreak.

The epidemiology lab at the Tarrant County Health Department said they are looking for a common strain of salmonella called typhimurium. But what worries the Center for Disease Control is that typhimurium has made people in Texas and hundreds of others across the country sick.

"The case actually diagnosed last year, in November of last year. And we got the report of it three days ago."

The five reported in Texas included the Tarrant County case, three others in Travis, Harris and Willacy counties and one other case in an undisclosed area.

The CDC is now trying to find out if the cases may be linked by any foods that have been distributed across the country

"It's too early to say, but that's the direction it's going to," said Dr. Anita Kurin, Tarrant County chief epidemiologist. "They're tracking to track down the contaminated food source."

Wayne Murphy, who owns the Ridgmar Farmer's Market in Fort Worth, said he remembers the confusion created while trying to locate the source of last year's salmonella outbreak.

"We just learn to live with it," he said. "It's part of the business."

It cost the food industry more than $100 million.

"The CDC shouldn't worry people until they actually know what the problem is," Murphy said.

The CDC hasn't issued any food warning, yet. But typhimurium is commonly found in eggs, cheese, poultry and unpasteurized milk.

News 8 checked with Dallas, Collin and Denton counties and no cases have been reported.

The Tarrant County girl wasn't ever hospitalized and fully recovered.

As for past cases, the FDA recalled baby spinach in 2006. In 2007, peanut butter was also recalled after salmonella was found in Peter Pan and Great Value brands. And in 2008, peppers were at the center of food recalls. In that case, an investigation is still officially open.

Salmonella can often seem like a typical stomach bug. It begins with nausea and vomiting and then you can have abdominal pains and diarrhea. Other symptoms include fever, chills and muscle pain.