The basil cyclospora outbreak has ended after sickening 241 people and hospitalizing 6 across the United States, according to the FDA. The last illness onset date was July 26, 2019. The outbreak was linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico. The FDA has completed its investigational activities, according to an October 11, 2019 update. FDA's traceback investigation confirmed that the fresh basil available at points of sale where some consumers became ill was that exported by Siga Logistics. The basil was recalled on July 24, 2019. The firm has been cooperative with the investigation. Consumers no longer need to avoid fresh basil from Siga Logistics. The case patients live in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, … [Read more...]
Final Report on Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Elko NV Restaurant
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final report on the Salmonella outbreak associated with "Restaurant A" in Elko, Nevada. The outbreak is associated with eggs served less than well done at that restaurant. Based on the details of this report and previous investigations, we believe Restaurant A is the Grille at Gold Dust West restaurant in Elko. Eggs were suspected in that outbreak, and according to news reports, 17 people were sickened. The outbreak was first picked up by officials when between Friday, March 8, 2019 and Monday, March 11, 2019 there were 12 positive Salmonella lab reports from "Hospital A" in Elko. Five patients were interviewed on March 11 and they revealed that all five cases had dined at Restauwrnta A and ate "sunny side up" … [Read more...]
Antibiotic-Free or Organic Poultry Less Likely to Have MultiDrug-Resistant Bacteria
A study conducted at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, along with the Penn State College of Medicine and the FDA, found that meat from conventionally-raised poultry harbored almost twice as much multidrug-resistant Salmonella bacteria as meat from antibiotic-free or organic poultry. The study was presented at IDWeek 2019. Consuming Salmonella-contaminated meat is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Since this infection is treated with antibiotics, when the pathogen is resistant to many different commonly used drugs, the illness can be more serious and dangerous. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals raised for food leads to antibiotic resistance. The FDA has issued guidance documents, which are not legally binding, to try to limit … [Read more...]
Tip Top Poultry Listeria Recall Updated to Include Retailers
The Tip Top Poultry Listeria recall, issued on September 28, 2019, has been updated to alert consumers that the ready-to-eat chicken products were used in more products, that is, secondary recalls. Some of these products may have been served from the deli country in retail stores. A list of the retailers that may have sold these products has been released, and pictures of product labels have also been released. These lists will be updated "as more information becomes available," according to the USDA. Some of the retailers that may have sold some of these products in certain states include Food Lion in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland,West Virginia, Delaware, Tennessee, and Georgia; IGA is South Carolina and Georgia, BI-LO in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia, … [Read more...]
Pritzker Hageman Representing Client Sickened With Listeria
The law firm of Pritzker Hageman is representing a client, 50-year-old Craig Moraski, of Bellevue, Nebraska, after he was sickened with a Listeria monocytogenes infection. He ate chicken salad from a tub purchased from Sam's Club in Papillon, Nebraska that was allegedly made from frozen precooked chicken sold by Tip Top Poultry to the E.A. Sween Company. Tip Top recalled their frozen cooked diced chicken in late September 2019 for possible Listeria contamination. There have been several secondary recalls of chicken salad and chicken salad sandwiches made with Tip Top chicken in the past few days. In addition, a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to cooked chicken in Canada is being investigated by Public Health Canada. Canadian officials stated on the outbreak notice that a … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Andover, MN
An E. coli outbreak at the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Andover, Minnesota has been confirmed by Doug Schultz, Information and Communications Officer for the Minnesota Department of Health. He said, "We are investigating a cluster of STEC cases that ate at the Andover location." That restaurant is located at 13753 Ibis St NW in Andover. The last time an ill person ate at that restaurant was in mid-August, 2019. The Minnesota Health Department does not consider this outbreak to be an ongoing situation. Dana Eikmeier, the epidemiologist working on this outbreak, told us that three adults were sickened. One was hospitalized, and no one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). She also said it's likely that the DOH won't find the suspect food, since the case count was so … [Read more...]
Salmonella and Hepatitis A Outbreak at Crow Wing County Jail in MN
A Salmonella and Hepatitis A outbreak at the Crow Wing County Jail in Minnesota has been announced by the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office. The number of those sickened has not yet been released. We also do not know the ages of patients or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office Jail Division was notified on September 26, 2019 that one inmate tested positive for hepatitis A. This virus is very contagious, and can be spread person-to-person, through contact with surfaces, and through contaminated food and drink. Officials do not know the source for the virus. Jail medical services staff, Crow Wing County Pubic Health, and Guide Point Pharmacy of Brainerd, Minnesota have been vaccinating inmates and employees who may have been exposed to … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Basil Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick in 11 States
The basil cyclospora outbreak has ended, according to the FDA, with 241 sick in 11 states. Exposures occurred in five states: Minnesota, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Six people were hospitalized because they were so sick. A recall was issued for basil imported from Mexico. The basil was exported to the U.S. by Siga Logistics de RL de CV, which is located in Morelos, Mexico. The basil imported by that company was recalled on July 24, 2019. The firm has been cooperative with the investigation, and stopped production and distribution when the outbreak was discovered. Patients live in these states: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. There is no information on the number of cases in … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak At Moby Dick House of Kabob in Maryland
A Salmonella outbreak at Moby Dick House of Kabob restaurant, which has locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. has sickened at least nine people in Maryland. Those cases have been confirmed since September 10, 2019. The press release from the Maryland Department of Health states that "The exact cause of the infections has not been determined and the investigation is ongoing, but eight of nine cases reported consuming Moby Dick House of Kabob hummus." There is no information on the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The press release also did not state the serotype of the Salmonella that made people sick. Moby Dick House of Kabob has voluntarily suspended sales of hummus. Public health officials are recommending that consumers discard any hummus … [Read more...]
Listeria Monocytogenes Deli Meats and Cheese Outbreak Ends
The Listeria monocytogenes deli meats and cheeses outbreak is over after sickening 10 people in 5 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 10 people were hospitalized. One person who lived in Michigan died. The patient case count by state is: Massachusetts (1), Michigan (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (3). The illness onset dates ranged from November 13, 2016 to June 20, 2019. Ill persons ranged in age from 40 to 88 years. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence found that deli-sliced meats and cheese might have been contaminated with Listeria bacteria and made people sick. Of the eight people interviewed, 63% said they ate products sliced at a deli counter, including meats and cheeses. There was limited information about … [Read more...]
