The Georgetown outbreak has increased to 62 sick on the Main Campus, including students and "community members." That is an increase of 20 more patients since the last update on Thursday, September 23, 2021. We don't know the official patient age range in this outbreak, but college age students are in their late teens to early or mid 20s. Staff members are included in this outbreak. Health officials have seen a "marked decrease" in case numbers over the past two days, according to the update from the administration. The university is still coordinating with DC Health to investigate the source of these illnesses. Officials have still not identified a common food source among those who have been sick, which includes students and staff living both on- and off-campus. Georgetown … [Read more...]
Georgetown Outbreak Has Increased to 62 Sick Students and Residents
Cilantro May Be the Source in Mystery Multistate Salmonella Outbreak
Cilantro may be the source in the mystery multistate Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak, according to a dendrogram on the National Center for Biotechnology Information site, part of the National Institutes of Health. According to that information, cilantro has tested positive for Salmonella Oranienburg, the bacteria that has caused this outbreak. Cilantro has been linked to many food poisoning outbreaks in the past. It is a herb that is commonly used in Tex-Mex cooking. And 43% of the cases in this outbreak are in Texas and Oklahoma. In 2015, cilantro was linked to a huge cyclospora outbreak that sickened at least 218 people in Texas and Wisconsin. And in 2014, another cyclospora outbreak was linked to fresh cilantro. The same thing happened in 2013. Going further back, in 2008, … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Outbreak Expands to 279 Sick and 26 Hospitalized
The mystery Salmonella outbreak has suddenly expanded to 279 sick and 26 hospitalized in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 152 new patients and eight new hospitalizations in just the last four days, with four more states added to the total. The pathogen is Salmonella Oranienburg. The government still does not know what food has caused this massive outbreak. And since Salmonella illnesses are very underreported, with a multiplier used by epidemiologists of 29, there could be more than 8,000 people sick in just this particular outbreak. The patient case count by state is: Arkansas (7), California (5), Connecticut (5), Florida (2), Illinois (28), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Kansas (6), Maryland (9), Massachusetts (10), … [Read more...]
Gastrointestinal Outbreak at Georgetown University in D.C.
A gastrointestinal outbreak at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. has sickened about a dozen students on the University's main campus, according to an update from the administration. Since early afternoon on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, individuals have symptoms including severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Those symptoms are consistent with several pathogens that cause food poisoning, including Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, norovirus, and Clostridium perfringens. The students are being treated and are receiving support and are recovering. The updates were sent to the Georgetown community via email from Ranit Mishori, M.D., MHS, FAAFP, Professor of Family Medicine, Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer. The school is coordinating with DC … [Read more...]
Avanti Shrimp Salmonella Weltevreden Outbreak Ends With Six Ill
The Avanti shrimp Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak has ended after sickening nine people in four states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This investigation was closed on July 21, 2021, but reopened on August 13, 2021 when more illnesses were detected on PulseNet, the national database for pathogen isolates. The case count by state is: Arizona (2), Michigan (2), Nevada (4), and Rhode Island (1). Patient illness onset dates range from February 26. 2021 to July 17, 2021. The patient age range is from 30 to 80 years. Of six people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized, for a rate of 50%, more than double the typical Salmonella outbreak hospitalization rate. State and local public health officials interviewed people about … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Fratelli Beretta Antipasto Distribution List Released
The distribution list for the Salmonella outbreak Fratelli Beretta antipasto trays has been released by the USDA. The outbreak has sickened at least 36 people in 17 states and has hospitalized 12. Fratelli Beretta antipasto trays were recalled on August 27, 2021, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to Italian-style meats on August 21, 2021. The recalled product is Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays. On August 31, 2021, the CDC warned consumers not to eat any of that product with a best by date on or before February 11, 2022. The antipasto trays contain prosciutto, soppressata, Milano Salami, and coppa. The product consists of two 12-ounce trays packaged … [Read more...]
Restaurant Shredded Pork Associated With Salmonella Outbreak in Canada
Restaurant shredded pork is associated with a Salmonella outbreak in the greater Toronto area in Ontario, Canada, according to a recall notice posted at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site. Illnesses associated with the consumption of these products are being investigated by the Ministry of Health in Ontario and Public Health Ontario, local public health units, and food safety partners. There is no word on the number of people sickened, the patient age range, illness onset dates, or the names of the restaurants. Neither Public Health Ontario or The Ministry of Health in Ontario have posted anything about this outbreak. The notice did state that the restaurants are serving the recalled products in Vietnamese/Asian meals in the greater Toronto area. Public health … [Read more...]
Restaurants Are Included in a Salmonella Outbreak That Has Sickened 127
Restaurants are included in a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 127 people in 25 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The government does not yet know which food item caused this outbreak, or if there is another cause. Eighteen people, out of 49 that gave information to health officials, have been hospitalized, which is a rate of 37%, almost double the typical Salmonella outbreak rate. This could mean that more vulnerable people were sickened, or that the pathogen is quite virulent, or that the pathogen load in the food was quite high. The CDC has stated that several subclusters at restaurants in multiple states have been identified. These subclusters can help officials solve outbreaks, since they can use traceback from … [Read more...]
Salmonella Oranienburg Outbreak Sickens 127, Hospitalizes 18
A Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak with an unknown food source that has sickened 127 people in 25 states has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a specific food has not been identified, this outbreak is growing rapidly, according to the government. The outbreak was first announced on FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table on September 15, 2021. The case count by state is: Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (3), Illinois (5), Iowa (1), Kansas (5), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), Minnesota (13), Missouri (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (3), New York (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (45), Utah (1), Virginia (9), and … [Read more...]
Cake Mix E. coli Outbreak Ends With 16 Sick in 12 States
The cake mix E. coli outbreak has ended as of September 16, 2021, with 16 people sick in 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A common brand of cake mix that made people sick was not identified. And no illnesses have been reported for seven weeks. The case count by state is: Illinois (2), Indiana (1), Iowa (2), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Nebraska (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), South Carolina (1), Utah (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). Seven people were hospitalized. The patient age range is from 2 t0 73 years, with a median age of 13. The age range for outbreaks linked to baking ingredients usually skews young; 75% of children in this outbreak are under the age of 18. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of … [Read more...]
