As of April 20, 2018, there are officially 53 people sick in the E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, according to the CDC. But how many people are really sick in this multistate outbreak? According to news reports and state health departments, the outbreak total could be 66. On Friday, April 20, 2018, the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services issued a press release stating that eight confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections have been identified at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center. Those patients are not included in the CDC count. The CDC case count for Alaska is one person ill, although the latest notice states that the seven patients will be added to the next update case count. The CDC count … [Read more...]
How Many Are Actually Sick in E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce?
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...]
Deadly Utah-Arizona E. coli Outbreak Linked to Animals
The deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona has been linked to infected animals, followed by person-to-person contact, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. Several livestock have tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli. The owners of the animals have been contacted and given guidance to prevent further spread of this outback. All tests on water systems, springs, ground beef, produce, and dairy products conducted by public health officials were negative. There have been no new confirmed cases in this particular outbreak since July 9, 2017. Public health agencies will still monitor any disease activity in those towns and surrounding communities. Agencies involved in investigating and monitoring this outbreak include the … [Read more...]
Deadly Utah, Arizona E. coli Outbreak Not Linked to Ground Beef
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department has issued a news release about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. They say that while they are still investigating this outbreak, they have determined that ground beef is not a likely cause. the advisory not to consume previously purchased ground beef is discontinued. The advisory to not consume raw milk stays in place. The investigation has been joined by Mohave County Department of Health, Utah Department of Health, and the Arizona Department of Health Services, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are 12 people sickened in this outbreak. Two small children have died. News reports state that seven of the twelve patients have been hospitalized, and four have … [Read more...]
Deadly E. coli Outbreak in Utah/Arizona Has Sickened 12 People
The E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona has now sickened 12 people, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. David Heaton, Health Department spokesman, commented on the press release page, saying "Advisory is cautionary action as investigation includes focus on food contamination and animal exposure risk. Individual case information is not being released other than to confirm that most are children." The source of the outbreak has still not been identified. We do know that two children have died in this outbreak. News reports before this update say that four patients have developed HUS and that seven have been hospitalized, but the health department has not confirmed these numbers. HUS is a complication of an E. coli infection that destroys … [Read more...]
Agencies Added to Deadly Utah-Arizona E. coli Outbreak
The investigation into the deadly E. coli outbreak at the border of Utah and Arizona has been joined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Utah Department of Health, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Utah Department of Health, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. The confirmed case count stands at 11. Two children have died after being infected with E. coli bacteria. The source of the outbreak hasn't been identified, but warnings have been issued by various health departments against consuming raw milk and previously purchased ground beef. This most recent update also warned people that the illness can be spread person-to-person. The cities involved in this outbreak are Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. This is … [Read more...]
FDA Updates I.M. Healthy E. coli O157:H7 – HUS Outbreak
The FDA has updated their investigation into the I.M. Healthy E. coli O157:H7 - HUS outbreak that has sickened 23 people in 9 states, most of them children. The states where the patients live and the case count by state is: Arizona, (4), California (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), and Oregon (6) Virginia (2), Washington (2) and Wisconsin (1). Ten of the ill persons have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And seven of the patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that can develop after this infection. On March 2, 2017, the states of California, Washington, and Oregon began to collect open and unopened samples of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter from grocery stores and from the homes of patients. Six samples collected by … [Read more...]
Pritzker Hageman Files First AZ I.M. Healthy E. coli HUS Lawsuit
The law firm of Pritzker Hageman has filed the first Arizona lawsuit in the I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 - hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak on behalf of a child. The lawsuit was filed on March 23, 2017 (Case : 1:17-cv-02233) in the United District Court Northern District of Illinois. The client in this case, minor child M.R., contracted a nearly-fatal E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating contaminated soy nut butter manufactured and sold by The SoyNut Butter Company. That infection developed into the complication hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which destroys the kidneys and can cause serious injury. The lawsuit alleges that the child, who attends a day care facility in Flagstaff, Arizona, consumed some of the SoyNut Butter in early January. On or about January … [Read more...]
Four Arizona Children Sickened with E. coli O157
Four children in Arizona are sickened with E. coli O157 infections that "appear to be linked" to soynut butter-containing products from "The SoyNutButter Company," according to a news release from the Arizona Department of Health. The Arizona Department of Health Services is recommending that consumers avoid eating "I.M. Healthy" brand soynut butter and soynut butter-containing products. Dr. Cara Crist, director of the department, said in a statement, "Our disease detectives are working on the state and local level to rapidly identify the source of this outbreak. As we determine suspected food sources that may be linked to E. coli, our state lab will test those products to determine if there’s a match." The four children who are sick in Arizona live in Maricopa and Coconino … [Read more...]
Salmonella Javiana Outbreak in Maricopa County AZ Sickens 50
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has released a PDF report on their investigation into a Salmonella Javiana outbreak that sickened at least 50 people in July and August, 2016. There are 40 confirmed cases and 10 probable cases. Thirty-three (66%) of the cases reported eating at Restaurant A, with exposure dates from July 16 to August 18, 2016. Forty other restaurants or fast food establishments were reportedly patronized by patients. Three had more than one person reporting eating there within the week before illness onset with two cases each. Findings from the investigation did not reveal a single source of contamination, but unfried shrimp was suspected as a possible vehicle for contamination based on a case control investigation. Environmental samples were taken. … [Read more...]
