Iowa was added to the states where recalled precut melon linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak was sold, according to an update posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Tuesday. That means the melon was sold in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
The Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to that product has sickened at least 60 people in five states. The case count is: Michigan (32), Illinois (6), Indiana (11), Missouri (10), and Ohio (1).
Epidemiologic and preliminary traceback evidence shows that the pre-cut melon that was supplied by Caito Foods of Indianapolis, Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak. Most of the ill persons said they ate pre-cut watermelon, cantaloupe, or a fruit salad mix made with melons bought from grocery stores in those states. Twenty-five of 39 patients interviewed by government officials said they ate melon; 7 more people said they ate melons but didn’t specify if it was pre-cut. The melons were sold at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon stores.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a Salmonella infection, you can contact attorney Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202..
We asked food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, an attorney who is representing people sickened in this outbreak, if more ill persons will be identified. He said, “This outbreak will probably grow, as it takes time from when a person gets sick to when he is tested and the results are reported to the government.”
Officials use the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is a national sub typing network that collects and saves DNA records from bacteria from ill persons. They test the DNA using techniques called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). That information is put into a national database and is used to identify outbreaks.
If you have been suffering from the symptoms of a Salmonella infection, please see your doctor. Those symptoms include diarrhea that may be bloody, stomach and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and a fever. Most people do recover on their own after this infection, but others do become very ill and need hospitalization. In this outbreak, 66% of patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick.
