A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-four people in 13 states are sick. Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, and two people have died. The patient case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), New York (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (2), and Texas (1). Listeria specimens were collected from patients from July 20, 2017 to August 1, 2019. The patient age range is from 35 to 92 years. This is a strange outbreak announcement, because the notice states that "A specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections in the United States." This is very unusual. In … [Read more...]
CDC Report: Salmonella Newport Shows Decreased Sensitivity to Azithromycin
In the current CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, some bacteria in a Salmonella Newport outbreak that was linked to beef and to a cheese imported from Mexico had decreased susceptibility to azithromycin and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin. This susceptibility has emerged recently, because that serotype with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin wasn't found in any isolates in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) surveillance before 2016. A genetically distinct group of MDR Newport isolates was identified in the two outbreaks. This resistance is rare among Salmonella serotypes that cause illness in the United States. Azithromycin is recommended to treat Salmonella infections orally; until 2017, decreased susceptibility to this antibiotic … [Read more...]
Now 69 Sick With E. coli After Swimming at Lake Nokomis
Now 69 people have been diagnosed with E. coli infections after swimming at Minneapolis's Lake Nokomis, according to news reports. That's an increase of 20 more cases since the last report by the Minnesota Department of Health on August 16, 2019. Minnesota officials did say they thought the case count would increase because when they released information about this outbreak, more people would recognize their symptoms, see a doctor, and be tested for the pathogen. E. coli is a reportable illness. All of the patients got sick after they swam at the lake between July 16 and August 11, 2019. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board said that the Lake Nokomis beaches will be closed for the rest of the season. In addition, nearby Wirth Beach has had to close. That is the fourth … [Read more...]
Food Worker at Imperial Kitchen in Philadelphia Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A food worker at Imperial Kitchen, located at 3164 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Anyone who purchased food from Imperial Kitchen between July 21 and August 6, 2019 may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus. Those vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who was ate at Imperial Kitchen more than two weeks ago may no longer be eligible for a vaccine; check with your doctor to make sure. The health department is offering the hepatitis A vaccine at no cost on Thursday, August 22, 2019 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at McPherson Square Park. You can contact the health department at 215-685-6741 during business hours if you have … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak in Canada Linked to Rosemount Cooked Chicken
A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Canada is linked to Rosemount brand cooked chicken, according to a notice from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Seven confirmed cases have been diagnosed as of August 18 2019. The patient case count by province is: British Columbia (1), Manitoba (1), and Ontario (5). People got sick between November 2017 and June 2019. Six of the seven patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient age range is from 51 to 97 years. An increase in Listeria illnesses was reported to the government in June 2019. Officials used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify two illnesses which occurred in November 2017 that had the same genetic strain as illnesses that occurred in April and June 2019. Rosemount cooked chicken has been … [Read more...]
Food Worker at Ashiya Teriyaki in Lynwood, WA Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A food worker at Ashiya Teriyaki, located at 1233 164th Street Southwest in Lynnwood, Washington, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. The Snohomish Health District closed the restaurant on August 15, 2019. Anyone who ate at that venue between August 2 and August 15, 2019 may have been exposed to the virus. Officials say that this case doesn't seem to be linked to the hepatitis A outbreak in Washington state. Unfortunately, it's too late for anyone who ate at Ashiya Teriyaki before August 6, 2019 to receive an immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccination, since those vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Those people should watch for the symptoms of hepatitis A and contact their doctor if they get sick. All other clients should contact their doctors for … [Read more...]
Basil Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened 205 in 11 States
The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That's an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics. Do not eat or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may include basil imported from Mexico, unless you are absolutely certain it was not imported by Siga Logistics. If you don't know where the basil you want to use came from, don't use it. The last illness onset in this cyclosporiasis outbreak … [Read more...]
Lake Nokomis E. coli Outbreak Has Sickened 49
The Lake Nokomis E. coli outbreak has now sickened 49 people, including the three confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in children that were announced earlier this week, according to a news release by the Minnesota Department of Health. That lake is located in Minneapolis. The ill persons are children and adults. About 20% of those sickened are under the age of 10. In all cases, people got sick after swimming at Lake Nokomis between July 16 and August 11, 2019. No one has been hospitalized. Officials said it is not unusual to see an increase in the case count after information about an outbreak has been released. People realize their own illness symptoms may be related to the outbreak. Most of the new cases were identified through a survey the Minnesota … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Outbreak at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in New Jersey
A hepatitis A outbreak has sickened 23 people after they visited the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in Mendham Township, New Jersey. This is a members only club. A food handler was diagnosed with hepatitis A and worked at the club while infectious. One person is "seriously ill," according to the press release by the New Jersey Department of Health. The food handler was excluded from work, and the remaining workers were reviewed for vaccination and proof of immunity from the virus. Close contacts of the food handler were given vaccinations. MGTC notified their members of the risk on July 5, 2019. That notification advices the members to inform anyone who ate with them at the club, and told them to get vaccinations. The food worker was at the club from June 9 and June 30, … [Read more...]
FDA Issues Warning Letter to Tahini Supplier After Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has issued a warning letter to tahini supplier Brodt Zenatti Holdings in Jupiter, Florida, which imported tahini from Israel that was linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak this spring. That outbreak sickened at least six people in ten states; one patient was hospitalized. This was the first warning letter issued under the authority of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act Final Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals. The FSVP regulation requires that importers perform risk-based activities to make sure that food they import into the U.S. meets applicable food safety standards. FDA has been conducting FSVP inspections since 2017. They help importers understand the requirements and how to make corrective … [Read more...]
