The PA Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 31 people in four healthcare facilities is potentially linked to Tailor Cut Produce Fruit Mix, according to the FDA. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that that fruit mix, made with cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, and grapes, is a potential source of the outbreak. Tailor Cut Produce says that their products may be found in restaurants, banquet facilities, hotels, schools, and institutional food service establishments in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. At least 31 people in southeast Pennsylvania are sick with Salmonella Javiana infections. The four healthcare facilities have not yet been named. But the FDA notice states, "Because this fruit mix may have been distributed to nursing homes, schools, hospitals and … [Read more...]
PA Salmonella Outbreak Potentially Linked to Tailor Cut Produce Fruit Mix
Why Does Wisconsin Have 31 E. coli Cases in Romaine Outbreak?
Why does Wisconsin have 31 E. coli cases, the most of any other state, in the multistate outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Salinas, California? Good question. We don't know. But it is true that, at 31 people sick, Wisconsin has more than 1/3 of the illnesses in this massive outbreak. It may be that a distributor in Wisconsin received a shipment of contaminated romaine from the Salinas, California area, which has been identified as the probable source of the pathogen. Wisconsin is just one of 23 states where ill persons live. No single supplier, distributor, farm, or even brand of romaine has been named as the source of the outbreak, although the CDC has named the Salinas growing region. We do know that Wisconsin was the first state to identify the outbreak back in … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Healthcare Facilities Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 29
A Salmonella outbreak has sickened patients who "spent time" in four Pennsylvania healthcare facilities in the southeastern part of the state, according to a health advisory issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The facilities in question are two hospitals and two long-term care facilities. At least 29 people are sick in this Pennsylvania healthcare facilities Salmonella outbreak. Illness onset dates range from November 19 through November 30, 2019. Officials are identifying cases, ensuring appropriate clinical management, and implementing prevention strategies to try to contain this outbreak. A Salmonella infection is reportable in Pennsylvania; that means that any Salmonella diagnosis must be reported to officials. The advisory tells healthcare facilities to report … [Read more...]
Salinas CA Romaine E. coli HUS Outbreak Investigated by FDA
The Salinas CA romaine E. coli HUS outbreak is being investigated by the FDA, which released a statement yesterday. At least 102 people are sick in 23 states. Fifty-eight people have been hospitalized, and ten patents have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection. The statement says that consumers should not eat romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, California, as well as products that have been recalled in relation to this investigation. Missa Bay recalled about 75,233 pounds of meat and chicken salad products on November 21, 2019. Romaine lettuce may be voluntarily labeled with a harvest region. If this label has the word "Salinas" on it, don't buy it or eat it. If the romaine you want to buy doesn't … [Read more...]
Salinas Romaine E. coli HUS Outbreak Has Now Sickened 102
The Salinas romaine E. coli HUS outbreak has now sickened at least 102 people in 23 states, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fifty eight people have been hospitalized because they are so sick, and 10 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. That's an increase of 35 cases in the week since the last update was issued. The case count by state is: Arizona (3), California (4), Colorado (6), Florida (1), Idaho (3), Illinois (1), Iowa (1), Maryland (4), Michigan (1), Minnesota (3), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (7), New Mexico (2), North Carolina (1), Ohio (12), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (8), South Dakota (1), Texas (4), Virginia (4), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (31). Illness onset … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 16 in 6 States
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 16 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has found that those sickened in this outbreak ate fresh, conventionally grown blackberries from that store chain. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (2), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (4), and Missouri (1). The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Illness onset dates ranges from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. Of 15 people who gave information about their health to the government, 9, or 60%, have been hospitalized. That is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. Of people who were interviewed, 15 out of 15 said they ate fresh … [Read more...]
After Five E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreaks, Is Romaine Safe to Eat?
In the past two years, there have been five E. coli romaine lettuce outbreaks in the United States. We have to ask: Is romaine safe to eat? The government is having great difficulty trying to trace back romaine that is responsible for these illnesses to the responsible farm, supplier, or distributor. So far, 387 Americans have been sickened in these Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreaks, 181 have been hospitalized, 35 have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and 6 have died. There have been a few recalls during these outbreaks, and the FDA has been able to identify the growing areas in a few outbreaks. One outbreak was linked to a specific farm in California. But the CDC outbreak notices typically state, "No common grower, supplier, … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Romaine Outbreak Grows to 67 Sick and 39 Hospitalized
The E. coli HUS romaine outbreak has now sickened at least 67 people in 19 states. This outbreak is growing rapidly; four days ago there were just 40 people sickened. Thirty-nine people have been hospitalized so far, and six have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (3), California (4), Colorado (1), Idaho (3), Illinois (1), Maryland (4), Michigan (1), Minnesota (3), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (2), Ohio (12), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (3), Texas (2), Virginia (2), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (21). Illness onset dates range from September 24, 2019 to November 14, 2019. The patient age range is from 3 to 89 years. Fifty people sickened in this E. coli HUS romaine outbreak had … [Read more...]
One Minnesota Patient in Romaine E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak
There is one Minnesota patient in Romaine E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak announced last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This patient is part of a fast growing outbreak that climbed from 17 sick on November 19, 2019 to 40 sick on November 22, 2019. That patient has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection. This complication most often affects children under the age of five. That patient has been hospitalized. The outbreak has affected 40 people in 16 states. The patient age range is from 3 to 89 years. Illness onset dates range from September 4, 2019 to November 10, 2019, but the notice states that "additional cases are under investigation," so the … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Outbreak: Forty Sick, CDC Says Avoid All Romaine From Salinas, CA
The CDC just posted a food safety alert, telling consumers that in the wake of the newest E. coli HUS outbreak, they should avoid buying or eating all romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region until more information is available. This is an echo of the same advice from the CDC last April, when another, deadly E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was linked to romaine. The advice in 2018 was to avoid all romaine lettuce until officials found the source. This newest outbreak is growing by leaps and bounds. Now 40 people in 16 states are sick. That's an increase of 23 more patients and 8 more states in just the last two days. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage of cases. Five people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a … [Read more...]
