The Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens food poisoning outbreak in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, has sickened 158 people as of October 23, 2017. The fundraising event where the illnesses occurred was held on October 16, 2017.
Forty people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, and almost all have been discharged. The age range of patients is from 10 years to 82, with the mean age of 37.
One person’s death may be associated with this outbreak. The Louisiana Department of Health is investigating that death and officials are working with the pathologist responsible for the autopsy. They have also requested help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to see if post-mortem testing can be performed.
Dr. Parham Jaberi, assistant state health officer, said that the presence of two pathogens in the food may explain why so many people got sick and why they got sick so quickly. Most were sickened within a few hours of eating the suspect food.
Health officials are testing samples of the jambalaya that were served at the fundraiser. Officials have tested 19 for samples; five tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. The results for the rest of the samples is pending. Officials are sending the samples to the CDC for more testing.
If you attended that event and ate the jambalaya meal, please call epidemiologists with the Louisiana Department of Health, even if you did not get sick. Your answers to questions may help pinpoint the foods that could have caused these illnesses. That number is 800-256-2748.
Salmonella bacteria are usually found on poultry and eggs. People get sick when food is improperly cooked, or when cross-contamination occurs between raw poultry or raw eggs and foods that are eaten uncooked.
Clostridium perfringens is found on all foods and in the environment. The bacteria grows on undercooked meats, or when large quantities of food, such as stews or gravies, are served to large groups. The food may have not been cooled properly, or may not have been reheated to a safe temperature.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include nausea, abdominal and stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. These symptoms usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Most people recover on their own, but some do become so sick, usually from dehydration or sepsis, that they must be hospitalized. This type of infection can be fatal.
The symptoms of Clostridium perfringens food poisoning include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea. People usually recover quickly after this infection. Hospitalization is rare, and this infection is not usually fatal,
If you attended the fundraiser in Caldwell Parish and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor. Salmonella infections can have long term health consequences such as arthritis and high blood pressure, so your doctor should know about this illness.
Pritzker Hageman law firm represents and helps people who have been sickened by contaminated food. We get answers, compensation, and justice for our clients. Our lawyers represent families of children sickened with bacterial infections in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against retailers, grocery stores, food processors, restaurants, daycare centers, schools, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker and his team won $7.5 million for young client whose kidneys failed because of hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Please note that class action lawsuits are usually not appropriate for outbreak victims because these types of cases are very unique.
