It's time for the Top 10 Outbreaks of 2023. Number 10 is the Ice Cream House Listeria Monocytogenes outbreak that took place in the summer of 2023. It sickened at least two people; one lives in New York, the other in Pennsylvania. Both patients were hospitalized. The median age in this outbreak was 77 years. People over the age of 65 are much more likely to suffer serious complications from a Listeria monocytogenes infection. In fact, one of the patients lived in a long term care facility where they were likely served this product. The other patient ought "Soft Serve on the Go" ice cream cups from a grocery store. Whole genome sequencing showed that the bacteria from patient isolates were closely related genetically. This means that they likely got sick from eating the same … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak Sickens 302 in 42 States
The deadly Salmonella cantaloupe outbreak has now sickened at least 302 people in 42 states, with 129 hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 72 more patients, 33 new hospitalizations, and four new states since the last update a week ago. And one more person, who lived in Minnesota, has died. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (14), California (14), Colorado (9), Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Georgia (6), Iowa (8), Illinois (18), Indiana (7), Kansas (2), Kentucky (8), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (6), Michigan (6), Minnesota (26), Missouri (15), Mississippi (1), Montana (2), North Carolina (6), Nebraska (7), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (2), Nevada (5), New York (10), Ohio (13), … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Outbreak Investigation Table
The FDA has updated its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table to include increases in case counts and advances in some of the investigations. There are seven investigations on the table at this time. The first outbreak investigation on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table is the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak connected to an unidentified food. The FDA has initiated traceback, has conducted an on-site inspection, and has collected samples for analysis. Three people are sick in that outbreak. For the Salmonelal Newport outbreak in a not yet identified food, the case count has increased from 43 to 44 cases. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update. Traceback has begun, and samples have been collected and analyzed. For the deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and … [Read more...]
Deadly Gills Onions Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 80 Sick
The deadly Gills Onions Salmonella outbreak has ended with 80 people sick in 23 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighteen people have been hospitalized. That is an increase of seven more patients and one more state since the last update was announced on October 24, 2023. One person who lived in Wisconsin has sadly died. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (1), Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (19), Virginia (3), Washington (4), Wisconsin (4), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to November 11, 2023. The patient age … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak Sickens 359, Kills 8
The deadly Salmonella cantaloupe outbreak has sickened at least 359 people and killed eight in the United States and Canada. As of December 7, 2023, there are 129 laboratory confirmed cases in Canada, and 230 illnesses in the United States. In the U.S., 96 patients have been hospitalized and there are three deaths: two in Minnesota and one in Oregon. In Canada, 44 patients are hospitalized and there are five deaths. The outbreak has been growing very quickly. Cases doubled in the United States in one week, and in Canada, they more than doubled in that time span. The case count by state in the U.S. is: Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (15), California (8), Colorado (8), Georgia (3), Iowa (5), Illinois (11), Indiana (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (7), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (2), … [Read more...]
Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois Hardest Hit by Cantaloupe Outbreak
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, and Arizona are the states that are the hardest hit in the deadly cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak. Minnesota has the most cases with 20, and two deaths. Wisconsin is next with 18 patients, Texas has 16, Arizona 15, Missouri has 14 patients, and Illinois has 11. In all, there are at least 230 people sick in 38 states. Ninety-six people have been hospitalized, and there are three deaths reported: Two in Minnesota, and one in Oregon. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (15), California (8), Colorado (8), Georgia (3), Iowa (5), Illinois (11), Indiana (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (7), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (20), Missouri (14), Mississippi (1), Montana (2), North Carolina (4), … [Read more...]
Cantaloupe Salmonella Cases Almost Double to 230 Sick
Cantaloupe Salmonella cases have almost doubled, according to the CDC, to 230 sick, an increase of 113 new cases since the last update was issued on November 30, 2023. One new death has been reported, 96 people are hospitalized, and there are four new states in the case count total. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (15), California (8), Colorado (8), Georgia (3), Iowa (5), Illinois (11), Indiana (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (7), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (20), Missouri (14), Mississippi (1), Montana (2), North Carolina (4), Nebraska (7), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (2), Nevada (5), New York (7), Ohio (8), Oklahoma (3), Oregon (5), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (6), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (5), Texas … [Read more...]
Hope Church International Salmonella Outbreak, Seattle Sickens 7
A Hope International Church Salmonella outbreak in Seattle has sickened at least seven people, according to the King County Health Department. Those sickened allegedly ate homemade dishes served at a church potluck. The church is located at 355 North 104th Street in Seattle, Washington. Seven people from five different households reported getting sick after eating at a potluck at the Hope Church International venue on November 12, 2023. The patient age range is from four to 63. Illness onset dates range from November 12, 2023 to November 13, 2023. One person has been hospitalized. All seven people have experienced symptoms that are consistent with salmonellosis, including fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, and bloody stools. The strain of Salmonella was not identified in … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins six other outbreaks, some that have been solved, and some not. The new outbreak has sickened at least three people. No food has been identified in this outbreak. And the FDA has not issued a recall, initiated traceback, inspected any facilities, or collected samples for testing. The unsolved Salmonella Newport outbreak has added a new strain: Salmonella Oranienburg. In that outbreak, at least 43 people are sick, an increase of one more patient since the last update. The FDA has initiated traceback and has collected samples for testing. The deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to recalled Malichita and Rudy cantaloupes has sickened at … [Read more...]
Deadly Minnesota Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 20
There are now 20 people sick in the deadly Minnesota cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak, according to news reports. That state has the largest number of patients in this nationwide outbreak. At least 117 people in 34 states are sick, as of November 30, 2023. Carlota Medus, supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health's foodborne diseases unit, told MPR, "Currently we are still in the middle of the investigation trying to determine where people were exposed who became ill. Were they exposed by the initial cantaloupe that was contaminated, or were they exposed and ate cantaloupe that was not the recall cantaloupe or was a cross-contamination event or some other situation?" Other states with large case counts are Wisconsin with 10, Missouri with nine cases, Ohio eight, … [Read more...]
