Fox News Denver is reporting that Colorado may be added to the list of states in the Wonderful pistachios Salmonella outbreak. That product is linked to a multistate Salmonella Montevideo outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in 9 other states.
Four people in one family in that state tested positive for Salmonella infections, although the report does not state if the strain of Salmonella that sickened those people is the outbreak strain. The family in Colorado said they were not aware of the Wonderful pistachio recall.
The pistachios were recalled in the U.S. and in Canada after the outbreak was discovered. The recalled nuts linked to the outbreak were sold under the brand names Trader Joe’s, Paramount Farms, and Wonderful.
In addition, nuts sold under the brand names Treasured Harvest, American Gourmet, Nature’s Eats, Southern Grove, Favorites, and Fresh Choice have recently been recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. But these products are NOT linked to the outbreak and no illnesses have been reported in connection with their consumption.
The outbreak numbers by state are: Alabama (1), Arizona (2), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), North Dakota (1), Virginia (1), and Washington state (2). The CDC expects the number of cases to grow as more people are diagnosed and identified as being part of the outbreak through DNA testing.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea that may be bloody, abdominal craps, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle aches, fever, and chills. Symptoms usually begin six to seventy-two hours after exposure to the bacteria. Most people get well within about a week without medical intervention, but others become so ill they must be hospitalized. Those most seriously ill usually have dehydration or sepsis, which is a blood infection.
If you ate Wonderful, Trader Joe’s, or Paramount Farms pistachios and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor for diagnosis and help. The long term complications of this illness can be serious, including Reiter’s Syndrome, which can cause reactive arthritis and eye problems, along with high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome.
