A new CDC study has revealed the Salmonella serotypes most commonly linked to Thanksgiving foods such as turkey. The study used routine surveillance for the years 1998 to 2018, and a case-crossover design. In 2017, there were about 45,000,000 turkeys produced for Thanksgiving. About 88% of consumers in the United States report that they eat turkey during the Thanksgiving meal. There are about 1 million cases of Salmonella reported in the United States every year. These illnesses cause 20,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths annually. Since a small percentage of people infected with this pathogen actually seek medical help every year, the number is likely much higher. Salmonella Hadar and Saint Paul are the serotypes that are most commonly associated with turkey. The serotypes … [Read more...]
CDC Study Reveals Salmonella Serotypes Linked to Thanksgiving Foods
E. coli Illnesses Are Increasing in Wyoming, According to Health Department
E. coli illnesses are increasing in Wyoming, according to that state's health department, along with cases of norovirus. This information, in a press release from the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), offered no specifics as to patient ages, hospitalizations, or any hints about possible sources. Norovirus is likely among the increase in gastrointestinal illnesses, but Matt Peterson, WDH surveillance epidemiologist, said in a statement, "We are specifically seeing increased reports of E. coli across the state recently compared to previous years, which can be particularly concerning in children under 5." The symptoms of norovirus and E. coli are similar up to a point, but norovirus is usually a self-limiting illness, and people who contract this infection usually do not seek … [Read more...]
Starbucks Hepatitis A Positive Worker in Camden County, NJ
A Starbucks hepatitis A positive worker in Camden County, New Jersey worked while infectious, according to the Camden County Health Department. A health care provider notified the county about this situation. That Starbucks location is at 1490 Blackwood Clementon Road in Gloucester Township. The employee worked there on November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13, 2021. Public health officials were notified on November 17, 2021 that a patient had tested positive for hepatitis A. Members of the Food Surveillance Unit visited the store on that day and conducted an inspection, which showed no evidence of food safety violations. The store was closed, based on the investigation, and was not allowed to open until all of the employees were vaccinated against the virus. Camden County Health Officer … [Read more...]
Now 892 Sick in the Salmonella Onion Outbreak; 183 Hospitalized
There are now 892 sick in Salmonella onion outbreak that is linked to red, white, and yellow onions imported from Mexico as of November 12, 2021. One hundred eighty three people have been hospitalized. That is an increase of 84 new cases, one new state (Hawaii), and 26 new hospitalizations since the last update on October 29, 2021. The patient case count by state is: Alabama (5), Arkansas (17), California (14), Colorado (3), Connecticut (5), Florida (43), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Illinois (48), Indiana (1), Iowa (4), Kansas (17), Kentucky (9), Louisiana (8), Maryland (63), Massachusetts (13), Michigan (10), Minnesota (25), Mississippi (3), Missouri (51), Nebraska (9), New Jersey (5), New Mexico (11), New York (20), North Carolina (23), North Dakota (4), Ohio (8), Oklahoma (114), … [Read more...]
Two Minnesotans Sick with E. coli After Eating Organic Baby Spinach
Two Minnesotans sick with E. coli O157 infections after eating organic baby spinach are part of a larger multistate outbreak, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. That agency is working on this investigation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA, along with public health agencies in other states. The CDC says this is an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, but the state has not yet named the serotype. The two Minnesota patients got sick from October 17 to October 23, 2021. Neither patient was hospitalized. The patients are in their mid-20s. One person lives in the metro area, and the other is from outstate Minnesota. One patient ate Josie's Organics organic baby spinach that was purchased from HyVee, and the other case ate Fresh Thyme organic baby … [Read more...]
Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach E. coli Outbreak Sickens 10 in 7 States
A Josie's Organics baby spinach E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 10 people in seven states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of eight people who gave information to public health officials, two have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 25%. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (1), Ohio (1), and South Dakota (1). Illness onset dates range from October 15, 2021 to October 27, 2021. The patient age range is from 2 to 71 years. Whole genome sequencing showed that bacteria from patient isolates are closely related, suggesting that people in this outbreak got sick from eating the same food. State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods … [Read more...]
Salmonella Citterio Salame Sticks Outbreak Grows to 30
The Salmonella Citterio Salame Sticks outbreak has grown to include 30 patients in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is an increase of 10 patients since the last update on October 28, 2021. Six people are hospitalized because they are so ill. That is an increase of two more states in the case count. A recall was issued after the government discovered that the product was still being sold at one retail location, which was not named. The case count by state is: California (12), Illinois (4), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (3), New Jersey (2), New Y0rk (1), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (2). The new states are Maryland and Pennsylvania. The pathogen that has caused these illnesses is Salmonella I … [Read more...]
Mystery Listeria Outbreak Ends; Three Other Outbreaks Still Active
The mystery Listeria outbreak has ended, and three other outbreaks on the FDA Core Outbreak Investigation Table are still active, according to the FDA. The three active outbreak investigations include the Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to onions imported from Mexico; the Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to Northeast Seafood in Colorado; and the acute non-viral hepatitis outbreak linked to Real Water Alkaline Bottled Water. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak sickened 20 people, which is large for an outbreak caused by that pathogen. We do not know which states the patients live in, how many are sick in each state, illness onset dates, whether or not anyone was hospitalized, or patient age ranges. The FDA did initiate traceback, they conducted on-side inspections, and … [Read more...]
Citterio Salame Stick Products Recalled For Possible Salmonella
Citterio Salame Stick products are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination, according to the USDA. Euro Foods, of Freeland, Pennsylvania, doing business as Citterio USA Corp, is recalling about 119,091 pounds of salame stick products. A public health alert about these products was issued on October 29, 2021 instead of a recall because the government believed that the product was no longer in commerce. But, after the alert was issued, FSIS found product at one retail location, and two unopened, intact Citterio salame stick products collected by the California Department of Public Health tested positive for Salmonella. The Italian-style salame stick items were produced before October 25, 2021. They are 2 ounce packages containing "Citterio Premium Italian-Style Salame … [Read more...]
Chicken and Salmonella Infantis, the Neverending Outbreak?
When the CDC ended its investigation of a deadly Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to raw chicken products in February 2019, it added an unusual note at the top of the posting. "This investigation is over. Illnesses could continue because this Salmonella strain appears to be widespread in the chicken industry," it read in part. Two and a half years later, the impact of that statement came into focus when an investigative report from ProPublica revealed that the outbreak, linked to a multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Infantis, has never ended. “Many people are still becoming ill, and some of them gravely ill,” Robert Tauxe told ProPublica. Tauxe, who is the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental … [Read more...]
