Five people in Pennsylvania are sick in the Salmonella outbreak that is linked to Coconut Tree frozen shredded coconut, according to the CDC. Nationwide, at least 25 people are sick, and six people have been hospitalized.
This outbreak could be much larger than stated, simply because most people who are sick with Salmonella infections don’t go to the doctor. The multiplier for this illness is 29. That means there could be more than 700 people sickened across the country in this one outbreak.
The states where ill persons live include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The strains of Salmonella that have caused these illnesses are Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- and Salmonella Newport.
The outbreak strain of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- was found in Coconut Tree brand frozen shredded coconut taken from a restaurant in Massachusetts earlier this month. Officials also found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport in coconut milk at a restaurant that was made from the Coconut Tree coconut.
Officials have been using the PulseNet System, which is a nationwide database of bacterial DNA, to find more outbreak patients. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria isolated from patients using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS is a more detailed test and can reveal more information than PFGE, although both are used by officials. The close genetic relationship between the isolates in this case mean that people in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2017 to November 4, 2017. The median age of people in this outbreak is 19. Most of those interviewed said they ate coconut before they got sick. Of those who said they ate coconut, most said they had an “Asian-style dessert drink” that contained shredded coconut. Desserts made with coconut include smoothies, and recipes that are made with coconut milk.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, vomiting, and a fever. Most people recover within about a week, but long term complications may include reactive arthritis, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel syndrome.
The Coconut Tree frozen shredded coconut has been recalled, but it may still be in home freezers. The product lasts about a month in the freezer. If you have any in your home, throw it away, and then clean your refrigerator and freezer to kill any remaining bacteria.
Attorneys at the noted law firm Pritzker Hageman help people who have been sickened by contaminated food protect their legal rights and get compensation and answers. Our lawyers help patients and families of children in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against distributors, schools, retailers, grocery stores, food processors, restaurants, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won $7.5 million for a young client whose kidneys failed because he developed hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli infection. You should know that class action lawsuits may not be appropriate for outbreak victims because each individual case is so different.
