The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo.

Testing conducted by the Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa confirmed on Monday, Jan. 25, that this strain of salmonella is linked to the outbreak that has sickened 187 people in 39 states (one case in Iowa) since July 1, 2009. No deaths have been reported. Thirty-five people have been hospitalized.

The Hygienic Laboratory's Environmental and Public Health Ambassador will be taking the national stage on Saturday, Jan. 30, when she competes in the Miss America Pageant. The pageant has awarded scholarships since 1945 and is the world's largest scholarship provider for women.