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%, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Uganda Outbreak Potentially Linked to Cavi Papayas Ends with 81 Sick
The Salmonella Uganda outbreak potentially linked to Cavi papayas imported from Mexico by Agroson's LLC has ended with 81 sick in 9 states, according to the CDC; the FDA's investigational activities are still ongoing. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. That's an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more state since the last update in July 2019. No deaths have been reported. The patient 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). The last illness onset date was July 16, 2019. The papayas potentially linked to this outbreak are no longer available for purchase, so the FDA says that consumers no longer need to avoid or withhold … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Declared in Amador County, California
A Shigella outbreak has been declared in Amador County, California according to news reports. That county is located in the eastern part of Northern California and includes the cities of Jackson, Pine Grove, and Ione. Shigellosis is caused by the Shigella bacteria. Symptoms of this infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Some people can develop toxemia as a complication of this infection. Symptoms usually begin one to four days after exposure to the contagious bacteria. Dehydration is a serious complication of this infection. Some people may be carriers of the bacteria and not develop any symptoms at all. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor. You may be part of this Shigella outbreak. Shigella … [Read more...]
Two More Illnesses in Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Brings Total to 16
The Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has now sickened two more people, according to news reports. There are now 16 people sickened in that outbreak, which officials think is linked to restaurants in the area. However, officials are not releasing the names of restaurants they think are involved in this outbreak. James Garrow, spokesperson for the health department, said in a statement, "The Health Department's investigation, like all foodborne illness investigations, takes time. This a wide-ranging investigation that asks very sick people to list every single thing that they’ve eaten or drank, at the level of every individual ingredient, during the period when they were exposed to the bug. This generates a massive list of possible items and locations that may have been the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Restore Public House in La Crosse WI
A Salmonella outbreak associated with steak tartare served at Restore Public House in La Crosse, Wisconsin has sickened 17 people, Jen Rombalski, Health Director of the La Crosse County Health Department told Food Poisoning Bulletin in an email. Steak tartare is made from beef that is finely chopped, mixed with other ingredients, and served raw. This food is considered "high risk." The restaurant prepared it properly, according to public health officials. Restaurants can serve these foods, according to Ms. Rombalski, as long as they post an advisory telling consumers that the food is risky to consume. The issue with foods like this is it doesn't matter how well the food is handled. Raw meats, especially ground beef, are often contaminated with pathogens such as Salmonella and E. … [Read more...]
Consent Decree Against Biogenyx and Basic Reset For FD&C Act Violations
A federal court has ordered two Tennessee-based companies to stop distributing drugs, dietary supplements, and devices until the companies comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C). The companies are Biogenyx and Basic Reset. The FDA has not approved these drugs or devices "for any use, despite the companies’ claims that these products could be used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent conditions such as inflammation, chronic diarrhea, bacterial infections, head lice, allergies and pain." In addition, those companies have unlawfully distributed dietary supplements that are adulterated and misbranded, according to the decree. During inspections at the facilities, FDA inspectors found numerous violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practices … [Read more...]
Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Sickens At Least 14
A Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 14 people, according to a Health Alert issued by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Public health officials "have identified a few shared restaurant exposures," in their ongoing case investigation, but no one restaurant or food has been named so far. In the past, E. coli outbreaks have been linked to ground beef, flour, animals at county fairs, raw milk, and lettuce. Just about any food can be contaminated with this pathogen through cross-contamination. The source of E. coli is typically found in the guts of ruminant animals such as cows and goats and is shed in their feces. Person-to-person transmission is also possible because the infectious does is small; just 10 bacteria. The patient age range in this outbreak … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Outpost Natural Foods in Wisconsin
A Salmonella outbreak linked to food from Outpost Natural Food in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has sickened at least four people, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the City of Milwaukee Health Department suspended meat and food processing at Outpost on August 23, 2019. At that time, officials said that no illnesses were associated with foods produced at the company's facility at 2826 South Kinnickinnic Avenue. Insanitary conditions were discovered during a routine inspection. Some ready-to-eat products tested positive for Salmonella during that inspection. As of August 26, 2019, there are four people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella found at Outpost Natural Foods. Three of … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Illness Associated with Bad Farms PA Raw Milk
One person is sick with a Campylobacter infection after allegedly drinking raw whole milk from BAD FARMS in Kempton, Pennsylvania, according to news reports. That farm is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The milk has been recalled and removed from store shelves. Tests taking during routine sampling indicated that the raw whole milk teated positive for Campylobacter bacteria. The milk was sold in plastic half gallons, gallons, and pints with a sell-by date of August 23, 2019. The milk was sold at Emmaus Farmer’s Market, Lehighton Farmers Market in Emmaus, Lehigh County, Trexlertown Farmers’ Market in Breinigsville, Lehigh County, and in BAD FARMS’ on-farm store and Wannamakers General Store, both in Kempton. Anyone who drank this milk and has been sick should contact their … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Has Sickened 1696 People As Of August 28, 2019 in the U.S.
Domestically acquired cases of cyclospora have sickened 1,696 people in 33 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City as of August 28, 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of these illnesses are linked to fresh imported basil and some restaurants and events throughout the country. But many of the individual cases could not be linked to a specific outbreak, in part because of the lack of validated molecular typing tools for the Cyclospora parasite. Identified cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the summer of 2019 include: An outbreak linked to fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics from Mexico, which has sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That outbreak was last updated on August 15, 2019. An outbreak associated with three … [Read more...]
