The deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has now sickened at least 141 people in 19 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty two more ill people from 15 states have been added to the investigation since the last update last Friday. Three more states have now reported patents: Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.
The case count by state is: Connecticut (5), Delaware (4), Iowa (2), Illinois (2), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (6), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (27) New York (39), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), Pennsylvania (8), Texas (7), Virginia (14), and Wisconsin (1). Forty-five ill persons have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York City.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 17, 2017 to July 27, 2017. The age range is from less than 1 year to 95, with a median age of 39. Among 103 people with available information, 45 have been hospitalized. This is a much higher rate than normal for Salmonella infections. This may be because the bacteria is especially virulent, or it may be that the bacteria is resistant to antibiotics.
The CDC and the FDA are telling consumers to avoid Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm located in Mexico. The papayas are sold under several different brand names. At this time, Caribeña, Cavi, and Valery brand papayas from Mexico have been identified as brands produced by this farm. Several companies have voluntarily recalled several brands of these papayas. The FDA is working to identify any other brands of papayas that may have been produced by this farm.
Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence has linked the Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico. There are two strains of Salmonella in this outbreak: Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson. Fifty-one people have been sickened with Salmonella Kiambu infections, and 90 people have been sickened with Salmonella Thompson infections.
If you have purchased yellow papayas in the past several days or weeks, check to see if they are Maradol. If they are, don’t eat them. If you aren’t sure if you have a Maradol papaya, ask the store where you purchased them. If you are still in doubt, don’t eat, sell, or serve the papayas; just discard them in a sealed or double bagged package. Then wash and sanitize countertops, utensils, and your refrigerator with a mild bleach solution to kill any bacteria.
The FDA is testing other papayas imported from Mexico as part of the outbreak investigation. They have isolated several other types of Salmonella from these fruits, including Salmonella Agona, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Gaminara, Salmonella Thompson, and Salmonella Senftenberg.
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