A huge cyclospora outbreak in the United States has sickened 988 people as of September 13, 2017. Every summer there is a large cyclospora outbreak in the United States. This illness, caused by the Cyclospora cayetensis parasite, is endemic to tropical and subtropical areas of the globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the this number includes people who reported international travel, as well as those who did not report travel. The reports have come from 40 states. At least 553, or 56%, of those sickened did not travel internationally. That means they were infected in the United States. Illness onset dates started on or before May 1, 2017. The report says that "it is too early to say whether cases of Cyclospora infection in different states are related … [Read more...]
Mysterious E. coli Outbreak in LaCrosse, WI Hospitalizes 6 Kids
An E. coli outbreak has sickened at least eight people in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and hospitalized six children. The La Crosse County Health Department is investigating the outbreak, according to the La Crosse Tribune. Some of the children have recovered and have been released from the hospital. The bacteria that made them sick is E. coli O157. And they were hospitalized because they developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of an E. coli infection that can cause kidney failure, strokes, seizures, and death. This type of bacteria releases shiga toxins, which travel through the bloodstream and kill red blood cells. Those dead and damaged cells can then clog the kidneys, causing them to fail. The Wisconsin Department of Health is assisting La Crosse County in … [Read more...]
Hispanics Disproportionately Affected by Papaya Salmonella Outbreak
The deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to Maradol papayas imported from Mexico has hit the Hispanic population disproportionately hard. As of last week, at least 235 people in 24 states are sick in this outbreak, which is actually a group of four separate outbreaks caused by eight different strains of Salmonella. According to the CDC, the percentage of Hispanics in each group ranges from 50% to 94%. The outbreak strains of Salmonella have been found in imported papayas. They match the strains taken from patient isolates. The outbreaks are separated based on the farms where the papayas were grown. Those farms are the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico, with papayas contaminated with Salmonella Thompson, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Agona, and Salmonella Gaminara; the Rancho El … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Yoshinoya Restaurant in Garden Grove, CA
A Salmonella outbreak at Yoshinoya restaurant at 13512 Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, California sickened at least 20 people in July 2017, Jessica Good, Public Information Manager of Orange County Public Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. Information about this outbreak was not released to the public at the time. One person was hospitalized in this outbreak, and public health officials are still gathering information on a couple of cases. Illness onset dates ranged from July 17 to July 31, 2017 after patients ate at the facility from July 14 to July 21, 2017. The restaurant was closed for corrective actions on August 3, 2017. No cases have been identified in people who have eaten at the restaurant since it reopened on August 4, 2017. The symptoms of a Salmonella food … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 210; Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas
The deadly multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to imported Maradol papayas has been updated by the CDC. There are four separate strains of Salmonella bacteria in this particular outbreak. There are now 210 people sickened in this outbreak. The bacteria in this outbreak include Salmonella Thompson, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Agona, and Salmonella Gaminara. These strains of bacteria were found in ill persons and in samples collected from imported Maradol papayas. As of September 11, 2017, 210 people have been sickened in 24 states. Sixty-seven ill persons have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York City. That is an increase of 10 more ill persons from 7 states since the last update on September 1, 2017. The case count by state is: California (1), … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak in Rhode Island Prompts Warning of Raw Cheese
A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened two people in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. This outbreak has prompted officials to issue a health warning about unpasteurized queso fresco (Mexican cheese). Queso fresco is a type of soft Mexican cheese. All cheeses, including Queso fresco, queso blanco, panela, and asadero-style cheeses are only considered safe when they are marked with a professional label stating that they are "pasteurized" or "made from pasteurized milk." Homemade queso fresco is sometimes made with raw milk. Raw milk can be contaminated with pathogens that can cause serious illness. The pasteurization process kills pathogenic bacteria. The warning especially applies to pregnant women, who can suffer serious complications … [Read more...]
Deadly Fourth Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Maradol Papayas
A deadly fourth Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this outbreak, linked to Salmonella Anatum infections, 14 people in 3 states are sick. Five people have been hospitalized. One person in California has died. Three other outbreaks are also linked to imported Maradol papayas. In those outbreaks, 215 people have been sickened. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (12), and Colorado (1). This outbreak is one of four separate outbreaks linked to Maradol papayas imported from Mexico. Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 20, 2017 to April 8, 2017. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 85, with a median age of 38. Ninety-two percent of patients are … [Read more...]
CSPI Appeals FDA Decision to Not Release Salmonella Papaya Store Info
Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA to get a list of retailers that sold the imported Maradol papayas linked to a deadly Salmonella outbreak. The FDA denied that request, so the agency is appealing the government's denial. As of last week, 201 people in 23 states are sickened in this outbreak. Sixty-five people have been hospitalized, and one person in New York City has died. The request for the retailers list was filed on August 17, 2017. The FDA said that it has 451 pages of documents that are "responsive to CSPI's request," but is withholding them, citing "exemptions for trade secret and confidential information. The FDA has said that consumers will have to ask retailers where the papayas they bought came … [Read more...]
Four People in Minnesota Sickened in Salmonella Papaya Outbreak
Four people in Minnesota have been sickened in the deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas. Nationwide, at least 210 people in 23 states are sick with eight different strains of Salmonella bacteria. The CDC and FDA are both investigating this outbreak. Many of those who are sick are female and of Hispanic origin. As of September 1, 2017, three farms in Mexico have been identified as growing and the shipping the contaminated fruit. There are actually three outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to the papayas. The first outbreak, which was first identified by officials is Maryland, has sickened 201 people. The Salmonella strains in that outbreak are Thompson, Kiambu, Agona, and Gaminara. All of those sickened in Minnesota are part of that particular … [Read more...]
The FDA Weighs In on The Deadly Papaya Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has updated its information on the deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas. Increased testing by the FDA has found papayas from two farms positive for Salmonella strains that matched illnesses not related to the initial outbreak. So the FDA is telling consumers not to eat Maradol papayas from these farms in Mexico: Carica de Campeche in Tenabo, Campeche, Mexico; Caraveo Produce in Tecomán, Colima, Mexico; and El Zapotanito in La Huerta, Jalisco, Mexico. No papayas are currently on the market from these farms because their shelf life has passed, but the agency is continuing traceback and trace forward activities. Other importers may have sourced papayas from those farms. Three brand of Maradol papayas have been recalled: Caribeña brand, distributed … [Read more...]
