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...]
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...]
Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Grows to 19 Sick; No Source Found
The Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has grown to include 19 ill persons. James Garrow of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health updated Food Poisoning Bulletin in an email. The Department cannot confirm whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The case count is accurate as of September 6, 2019. Public health officials continue investigating the source of the pathogen. The Health Alert stated that restaurants may be involved in this outbreak, but no specific restaurants have been named yet. The outbreak was originally reported on September 5, 2019. The age range of patients at that time was 7 to 90. This age range may have changed; but we don't know for sure. E. coli outbreaks in restaurants are not common, and most often are labeled "associated with" or "possible." … [Read more...]
Minnesota State Fair E. coli O157 Outbreak Sickens 11; 1 With HUS
An E. coli O157 outbreak associated with the Minnesota State Fair has sickened 11 people, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). This Minnesota State Fair E. coli outbreak was announced today. Evidence suggests that contact with livestock is a "key factor" in this outbreak. Patients interviewed by public health officials say that they visited the fair between August 25, 2019 and September 2, 2019. Illness onset dates range from August 29, 2019 to September 6, 2019. Whole genome sequencing indicates that the E. coli O157 strains are closely related. Six people were hospitalized; one remains in the hospital. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is potentially fatal. Cases range in age from 2 to 43 years. HUS is most … [Read more...]
