A potential outbreak at Central Connecticut State University Hilltop Cafe has sickened an unknown number of students, according to news reports. The Hilltop Cafe is closed while the outbreak is being investigated by public health officials. The university's Environmental Health & Safety Department is working with the City of New Britain Department of Public Health and the establishment that provides the food to that venue, Sodexo, to try to solve this outbreak. Hilltop Cafe is the venue that is open the most hours on campus, but all three dining facilities are owned by Sodexo. There is no information about this outbreak on the City of New Britain Department of Public Health web site. Officials do not know what pathogen is causing these illnesses, and if a food or ill employee … [Read more...]
Huntley High School E. coli Outbreak Sickens Nine Students in IL
The Huntley High School E. coli outbreak has now sickened nine students in Illinois, according to news reports. That is an increase of three more patients since the outbreak was announced on September 17, 2023. That high school is located at 13719 Harmony Road in Huntley. The outbreak has not been solved. Officials are looking at responses to a survey sent out to students and their families, asking about exposures before the outbreak began. The McHenry County Health Department issued a press release about the outbreak on September 21, 2023. The confirmed outbreak is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria, which can cause serious illness. One of the complications of this infection is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that is a type of kidney failure. There are no … [Read more...]
Blue Ridge Rock Festival Outbreak Sickens People in Virginia
A Blue Ridge Rock Festival outbreak has sickened concertgoers in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health and news reports. Public health officials are asking that anyone who attended that event, which was supposed to be held September 5 through September 10, 2023, to complete an online survey, even if they didn't get sick, to help them solve this outbreak. The Southside Health District of the Virginia Department of Health is leading the investigation. The festival was canceled two days early, allegedly because of weather conditions. It was held at the Virginia International Raceway located at 1245 Pine Tree Road in Alton, Virginia. 10 News got "hundreds of messages" about the festival from patrons who said that there were unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the … [Read more...]
Outbreak at Wedding Held at Gardens on Q in Holdrege, Nebraska
An alleged outbreak at a wedding held at the Gardens on Q venue in Holdrege, Nebraska has sickened an unnamed number of guests, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service and the Two Rivers Public Health Department. That venue address is 74192 Q Road in Holdrege. Public health officials are asking that anyone who attended that wedding reception fill out a survey even if they didn't get sick to help them solve this outbreak. There is no information about the number of people potentially sickened, the patient age range, illness onset dates, or whether anyone has been hospitalized. The survey simply said that there are "potential cases of gastrointestinal illness among people who attended a wedding reception at Gardens on Q." The survey asks people to check … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Confirmed at Pine Knob Music Theatre Ivy Lounge in MI
A case of hepatitis A has been confirmed at the Pine Knob Music Theatre Ivy Lounge, according to the Oakland County Health Department in Michigan. The case was confirmed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Laboratory. That means that anyone who ate food at that venue between August 26 and September 8, 2023, has potentially been exposed to the virus. Tomorrow is the last day to be vaccinated for people who attended the Jason Aldean concert on September 8, 2023. The Health Division is advising all season members, their guests, and staff who ate food at the Ivy Lounge between August 26 and September 8, 2023 to monitor themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A and get vaccinated if possible. Dr. Russel Faust, Oakland County medical director said in a statement, … [Read more...]
CrackleMi Café Salmonella Outbreak in Seattle, WA Sickens Three
A CrackleMi Café Salmonella outbreak in Seattle, Washington has sickened at least three people, according to the King County Public Health Department. The illnesses occurred in August, but the investigation into the outbreak was announced on September 21, 2023. That restaurant is located at 709 North 35th Street in Seattle. Illness onset dates range from August 16 through August 20, 2023. The patients ate at that cafe on dates ranging from August 7 to August 17, 2023. The patient age range is from 23 to 38 years. All three patients developed one or more symptoms that are consistent with salmonellosis, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal ramps, diarrhea, stool that is bloody, and fever. All three patients had confirmatory testing that indicated Salmonella infections via culture. … [Read more...]
Huntley High School E. coli Outbreak Sickens Six Students in Illinois
A confirmed Huntley High School E. coli outbreak has sickened at least six students in that school in Illinois, according to the McHenry County Department of Health. The Huntley Community School District 158 is working with the health department to respond to the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. That school is located at 13719 Harmony Road in Huntley. The first illness was identified on Sunday, September 17, 2023. At this time, officials do not know the source of the illnesses. The county is actively monitoring for potential cases, since E. coli is a reportable condition, and there are no other known cases in McHenry County outside of the school outbreak. School officials sent a letter to parents, students, and staff, telling them that they are taking the situation … [Read more...]
Tacos El Guero Food Truck Outbreak in WA Sickens 34
A Tacos El Guero food truck outbreak in Kirkland, Washington has sickened at least 34 people, according to the Seattle King County Health Department. Officials do not yet know the exact food or drink that caused these illnesses. The outbreak is associated with a private event that was catered by a Tacos El Guero food truck on September 14, 2023. No patients were hospitalized. The 34 patients developed one or more symptoms that are consistent with a bacterial toxin infection, including abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Illness onset dates range from September 14, 2023 to September 15, 2023. In the news release about the outbreak, information about Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, two pathogens that cause symptoms quickly after infection, was provided. The exact … [Read more...]
Now 30 Sick in Carnicerias Guanajuato Salmonella Outbreak
There are now 30 sick in Carniceria Guanajuato Salmonella outbreak in Chicago, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and news reports. That is an increase of 10 more patients since the first notice of the outbreak was issued on September 15, 2023. The grocery store, which also houses a taqueria, is located at 3140 North California Avenue in Avondale in Chicago. At that time, the CDPH said that 10 people were hospitalized. We do not know if any of the 10 new patients have been hospitalized. And CDPH said that there are probably more who are sick. In fact, public health officials use a multiplier for Salmonella outbreaks of 30.2, which means that there are usually 30 times more patients in a typical outbreak than are reported to public health departments. That … [Read more...]
Carniceria Guanajuato Salmonella Outbreak in Chicago Sickens 20
A Carniceria Guanajuato Salmonella outbreak in Chicago has sickened at least 20 people and 10 of those patients are hospitalized, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). That grocery store, which houses a taqueria, is located at 3140 North California in Chicago, Illinois. Those sickened at prepared food at either the taqueria or the prepared foods section of the grocery store. Carniceria Guanajuato voluntarily closed on September 8, 2023 and is cooperating with CDPH to find the source of the illnesses. Public health officials performed an environmental assessment of the grocery store and provided guidance to employees on safe food handling practices and environmental cleaning to prevent more illnesses. There is no word on any suspect food, the ages of the … [Read more...]
