Cavi papayas from Agroson's LLC are now linked to the Salmonella Uganda outbreak that was just announced by the CDC. Now 71 people in 8 states are sick. Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (18), New York (27), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 1029 through June 16, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 90. Of 45 people who have provided information to investigators, 60% have been hospitalized. This is three times the hospitalization rate in a typical Salmonella outbreak. This particular strain of Salmonella Uganda is resistant to several antibiotics, which may explain the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pig Ear Dog Treats Sickens 45
A Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- linked to pig ear dog treats has sickened at least 45 people in 13 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twelve people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (12), Kansas (3), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (7), Missouri (3), New York (6), North Dakota (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from November 18, 2018 to June 13, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 81 years. Of the 39 people who provided information, 12, or 31%, have been hospitalized. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that contact with pig ear dog treats is the likely source of this … [Read more...]
Officials Say There May Be Another E. coli Case at San Diego County Fair
A new, unconfirmed case of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) illness that may be related to animals at the San Diego County Fair has been reported, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services. Lab results have confirmed a previously reported case. The new case is a 6-year-old boy who attended animal displays at the fair in June 2019 and started showing symptoms of the infection on June 26, 2019. He was not hospitalized and is recovering. There have been a total of five cases linked to contact with animals at the fair. Four are confirmed by lab tests and one is a probable case. Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.P.H., County public health officer said in a statement, "As we continue our investigation, more cases are likely to be reported. This is typical of any public … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak: One Little Child Dies, Three Sickened at San Diego County Fair
One 2-year-old boy has died, and three other children from 2 to 13 years of age have been sickened with E. coli infections after they visited the San Diego County Fair, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. The infections are apparently linked to contact with animals at that venue. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened. Shiga toxin E. coli (STEC) outbreaks linked to county fairs and petting zoos have occurred several times in the past few years. An outbreak at the Oxford County Fair in Maine in 2015 sickened two small boys; one of them died. An E. coli outbreak at the Milk Makers Fest in Whatcom County, Washington in 2015 sickened 36 children with E. coli infections. And in 2014, an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people in … [Read more...]
Lawyer Warns of E. coli Danger at Petting Zoos
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Ryan Osterholm are warning about the dangers of E. coli infections from petting zoos. As the weather warms and summer starts, petting zoos are popular attractions for families with young children. Unfortunately, those venues can be and have been the source of serious and even deadly E. coli outbreaks. The issue is that ruminant animals often held at petting zoos, such as goats, sheep, and cows, can carry Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria in their guts. The animals don't get sick from this pathogenic bacteria because they lack the gene that permits the bacteria to grow and produce toxins that destroy red blood cells. It doesn't matter how old the animal is; young animals can carry this pathogen. The bacteria are shed in the animal's feces. … [Read more...]
Salmonella Uganda Outbreak Linked to Imported Papayas Sickens 62
Update: Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are now linked to this outbreak. A Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh whole papayas imported from Mexico has sickened at least 62 people in 8 states. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they were so sick. No recall has been announced. The papayas were sold in retail stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (12), New York (24), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 019 to June 8, 2019. Most illnesses have occurred since April 2019. The patient age range is from 1 to 86 years. Sixty-six percent of … [Read more...]
Salmonella Concord Karawan Tahini Outbreak Ends With Six Ill
The Salmonella Concord Karawan Tahini outbreak has ended after sickening six people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those patients live in three states. The patient case count by state is: Massachusetts (1), New York (4), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates ranged from March 9, 2019 to May 2, 2019. The patient age range is from 8 to 33 years. One patient was hospitalized because their illness was so severe. Public health officials used the PulseNet system to find people who may have been part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing performed on isolates from these patients showed that they were closely related genetically. That means the people in this outbreak were more likely to share a common source of infection. Epidemiologic, … [Read more...]
E. coli Illnesses Associated with Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, Missouri
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating five E. coli cases in people who have visited Grant's Farm, located in St. Louis, since May 2019. This investigation is ongoing and is focused on determining what may have led to the illnesses. Those five people are sick with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections (STEC). There is no word on whether any of the patients have been hospitalized, or if any have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a compilation of a STEC infection that can cause kidney failure. This complication is more common in children under the age of five. The press release also did not state the ages of the patients. Preliminary recommendations to Grant's Farm include reminders of the importance of handwashing after direct … [Read more...]
Ground Beef E. coli 0103 Outbreak Ends With 209 Sick
The ground beef E. coli O103 outbreak has ended with 209 people sick in 10 states and 29 hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The outbreak notice states that ill people in this outbreak ate ground beef from many sources. No single source of contamination was identified. But two processors did recall ground beef that may have been contaminated with E. coli O103. The case count by state is: Florida (5), Georgia (51), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (76), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Ohio (12), Tennessee (59), and Virginia (2). Illness onset dates range from March 1, 2019 to May 1, 2019. The patient age range was less than 1 year to 84 years. Two … [Read more...]
FDA Updates ADM Milling Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Investigation
The FDA has updated its investigation of the ADM Milling flour E. coli O26 outbreak with more information about another product recall. On June 13, 2019, King Arthur Flour, a customer of ADM Milling, recalled five pound bags of unbleached all-purpose flour with these lot codes and best by dates: 12/07/19 LOT: L18A07C; 12/08/19 LOTS: L18A08A, L18A08B; and 12/14/19 LOTS: L18A14A, L18A14B, L18A14C. This recall does not include products sold through the King Arthur website, Baker's Catalogue, or the Baker's Store in Norwich, Vermont. The recall also reminds consumers that all five pound bags, all lot codes, and all best if used by dates of Aldi Baker's Corner all purpose flour that were distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, … [Read more...]
