The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Cavi papaya Salmonella Uganda outbreak, declaring the outbreak over as of September 12, 2019, with 81 people sick in 9 states. That’s an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more affected state since the last update. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so ill. No deaths were reported.
The case count by state is: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 2019 to July 16, 2019. Most of the illnesses occurred since April, 2019. The patient age range is from less than one year to 90 years. Of 48 people who identified their ethnicity, 31, or 65%, were Hispanic.
Of 51 people who gave information to public health officials about their conditions, 27, or 53%, were hospitalized. That’s a high hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak, which is typically about 20%. Whole genome sequencing of 66 bacterial isolates taken from patients predicted antibiotic resistance to streptomycin and sulfisoxazole.
You can contact attorney Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900.
Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico by Agroson’s LLC were the likely source of this outbreak. Of the 34 people who were interviewed, 74% reported eating papayas before they got sick.
The FDA and officials in several states collected records from grocery stores where the ill persons said they purchased papayas. The records showed that Cavi Brand papayas, distributed by Agroson’s LLC of The Bronx, New York, were sold at multiple grocery stores where the patients bought papayas. Agroson’s does not accept this conclusion and refused to issue a recall when the FDA requested it.
The CDC says that consumers no longer need to avoid eating Cavi Brand papaya imported form Mexico. The papayas linked to this outbreak are no longer on the market.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include a fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal and stomach cramps and pain, and diarrhea that may be bloody. People usually start feeling sick 12 to 72 hours after eating food contaminated with this pathogen. Most people recover without medical treatment, but the long term complications of a Salmonella infection can include high blood pressure, reactive arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
If you have eaten papayas and have been ill with these symptoms, see your doctor. You may be part of this Cavi papaya Salmonella Uganda outbreak.
