A food poisoning outbreak at the Masonic Snow Lodge at 240 Temple Drive in Boone, North Carolina has sickened eight people. All ate at a barbecue fundraiser that was held Friday, July 19, 2019. Those eight cases are laboratory confirmed. A "number of others" have also been sickened, according to the press release. The press release does not specify which pathogen has sickened these people. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which are typical for any number of bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The most common foodborne illnesses are caused by Salmonella, norovirus, Clostridium perfringens, and Campylobacter. Jennifer Green, Health Director of AppeHealthCare in Alleghany and Ashe counties in North Carolina, said in a statement, "We do not have a … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Outbreak at Masonic Snow Lodge in Boone, NC Sickens 8
Cyclospora Illness Spike in New York City Causes Concern
A cyclospora illness spike in New York city have raised concern among public health officials. More than 90 cases have been reported in that city since January 1, 2019, compared to 56 cases in in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period. Since July 1, 2019 alone there have been 40 cases diagnosed and reported to the New York City Health Department. About 30% of those patients have traveled outside the U.S. two weeks, mostly to Latin America, before they got sick, which is the typical reason people contract this infection. The cyclospora parasite is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Investigators are looking at the 70% of cyclospora cases who did not travel outside the country to see if there is a possible common food source. New York … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak in Michigan Associated with Taste Restaurant Sickens Eight
A cyclospora outbreak in Southwest Michigan has sickened at least eight people, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Preliminary information suggests that those sickened were exposed to food products that were prepared or distributed by Taste restaurant in South Haven. Those people have gotten sick in the last month. And at least 14 other people are being investigated as being part of this outbreak cluster. Those sickened have said they have been eating out in Southwest Michigan since mid June. Officials from the The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Van Buren/Cass District Health Department are investigating this outbreak. The press … [Read more...]
Pig Ear Dog Treat Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 93; Multiple Strains Found
The pig ear dog treat Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 93 people in 27 states. Twenty people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Colorado (2), Florida (2), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Illinois (6), Indiana (4), Iowa (18), Kansas (3), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (4), Michigan (9), Minnesota (1), Missouri (5), New York (11), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Ohio (5), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (3), South Carolina (1), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3). The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 90. Of 67 people who provided information to investigators, 20, or 30%, has been hospitalized. That is 50% higher than the typical percentage in Salmonella … [Read more...]
Salmonella Braenderup Outbreak at Bloomington, MN Green Mill Sickened Seven
A Salmonella Braenderup outbreak at the Green Mill restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota sickened at least seven people, according to a report by the Minnesota Department of Health. This outbreak was discovered on April 19, 2019. Five of those cases are lab-confirmed. The investigation began when officials found that two clinical Salmonella Braenderup isolates submitted to the MDH Public Health Laboratory through routine surveillance had indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. Interviews with those two patients found that they had eaten food at the Green Mill restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota before they got sick. The City of Bloomington Environmental health Division started an investigation. Cases were defined as people who tested positive for Salmonella … [Read more...]
E. coli O121 and O103 Outbreak Associated with Ground Bison Sickens 21
An E. coli O121 and O103 outbreak likely linked to ground bison supplied by Northfork Bison Distributors has sickened at least 21 people in 7 states. This investigation into this outbreak is being conducted by the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, since the supplier is in Québec, Canada. The CDC and FDA have analyzed traceback information to determine that ground bison supplied by Northfork Bison Distributors is the likely cause of this outbreak. The FDA regulates bison meat because authority to do so is not assigned specifically to the USDA in the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The states where ill persons live are Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Eight people have been … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in Washington May Be Linked to Nationwide Turkey Outbreak
A Salmonella Reading outbreak in Washington state may be linked to the nationwide Salmonella Reading outbreak that was caused by raw turkey products. The nationwide raw turkey product outbreak was declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April 2019. At least 358 people in 42 states were sickened in the nationwide outbreak, and 130 were hospitalized. One person died. Since April 24, 2019, seven people (two who live in Snohomish County and five from King County) said they got sick after eating at a private event on April 20, 2019. Officials think that the two outbreaks are related because laboratory testing indicates the Washington outbreak strain is closely related to the national outbreak strain. The last reported illness in the national outbreak … [Read more...]
Investigators Fail To Find Salmonella Source in Del Monte Vegetable Trays
The FDA has posted an update on the Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays. Investigators have failed to find a single source of potential point of contamination in their investigation of the Del Monte Kankakee, Illinois Facility. The FDA inspected that facility after the outbreak was announced. Officials say that it is not likely that the trays the Wisconsin Department of Health Services warning against eating on May 21, 2019 are still on the market or in people's homes. Five people, living in Minnesota and Wisconsin, are sick in this outbreak. The last illness onset date was May 15, 2019. The first patient was reported ill on April 13, 2019. If you did purchase a Del Monte vegetable tray from a Minnesota or Wisconsin Kwik Trip store in April 2019, … [Read more...]
ADM Milling E. coli O26 Flour Outbreak Ends With 21 Sick
The E. coli O26 flour outbreak that was linked to recalled Aldi Baker's Corner, Pillsbury bread, and King Arthur flour has ended with 21 people in 9 states sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three people were hospitalized. There were no deaths. The case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (7), Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (2), and Rhode Island (1). Illness onset dates ranged from 7 to 86 years. Of 20 people who provided information to investigators, 3 were hospitalized. There were four recalls issued in relation to this outbreak, although no illnesses were linked to some of the products. They were recalled because they were made of the same lot of wheat used at ADM Milling to … [Read more...]
Three Sick With E. coli After Eating at Red Robin in Westminster, CO
Three people, including two children, are sick with E. coil O157:H7 infections after eating at the Red Robin restaurant at 799 West 146th Avenue in Westminster, Colorado, according to the Tri-County Health Department. Public health officials inspected the restaurant on July 9, 2019, after being informed about the outbreak by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Two of the three people infected were hospitalized because they were so ill. The inspection revealed several food safety violations. Red Robin voluntarily closed the restaurant on July 10, 2019 for cleaning and sanitizing. They also required food safety training for all employees, and they tested employees who handle food. Critical violations included improper employee hand washing, improper cleaning … [Read more...]
