A Si Casa Flores Salmonella outbreak in Grants Pass, Oregon has sickened several people and hospitalized two, according to the Facebook page of the Josephine County Public Health Department. The health department did not specifically say how many people may have been sickened. That restaurant is located at 202 North East Beacon Drive in Grants Pass. The health department and Oregon Health Authority are looking for more people who may have been exposed. They are asking anyone who ate at three restaurants that share ingredients from June 25, 2020 to July 7, 2020 to fill out a public health survey. If you ate at one of those venues on those dates, please fill out the survey even if you didn't get sick. Public health officials will use this information to try to narrow down the list of … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Basil Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick in 11 States
The basil cyclospora outbreak has ended, according to the FDA, with 241 sick in 11 states. Exposures occurred in five states: Minnesota, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Six people were hospitalized because they were so sick. A recall was issued for basil imported from Mexico. The basil was exported to the U.S. by Siga Logistics de RL de CV, which is located in Morelos, Mexico. The basil imported by that company was recalled on July 24, 2019. The firm has been cooperative with the investigation, and stopped production and distribution when the outbreak was discovered. Patients live in these states: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. There is no information on the number of cases in … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak At Moby Dick House of Kabob in Maryland
A Salmonella outbreak at Moby Dick House of Kabob restaurant, which has locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. has sickened at least nine people in Maryland. Those cases have been confirmed since September 10, 2019. The press release from the Maryland Department of Health states that "The exact cause of the infections has not been determined and the investigation is ongoing, but eight of nine cases reported consuming Moby Dick House of Kabob hummus." There is no information on the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The press release also did not state the serotype of the Salmonella that made people sick. Moby Dick House of Kabob has voluntarily suspended sales of hummus. Public health officials are recommending that consumers discard any hummus … [Read more...]
Listeria Monocytogenes Deli Meats and Cheese Outbreak Ends
The Listeria monocytogenes deli meats and cheeses outbreak is over after sickening 10 people in 5 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 10 people were hospitalized. One person who lived in Michigan died. The patient case count by state is: Massachusetts (1), Michigan (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (3). The illness onset dates ranged from November 13, 2016 to June 20, 2019. Ill persons ranged in age from 40 to 88 years. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence found that deli-sliced meats and cheese might have been contaminated with Listeria bacteria and made people sick. Of the eight people interviewed, 63% said they ate products sliced at a deli counter, including meats and cheeses. There was limited information about … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Perryville Correctional Facility in Arizona Sickens 5
A Salmonella outbreak at the Perryville Correctional Facility in Goodyear, Arizona has sickened five people, Chris Minnick, Communications Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The outbreak began on August 14, 2019. This facility houses women inmates. Officials took and tested 69 environmental samples. All were negative for the pathogen. We do not know if anyone has been hospitalized in this outbreak. And we do not know the patient age range. The origination for these infections is under investigation by the Arizona Department of Health Services, and no more information or additional details about the cases are being released. The Arizona Department of Corrections is working with ADHS to investigate this outbreak. Outbreaks … [Read more...]
How to Report a Problem With Food to the FDA and USDA
Most Americans have had food poisoning at one time or another, giving that 48,000,000 Americans contract this form of illness every year. Most people think they have the "stomach flu" or a "24 hour bug" when they actually have food poisoning. How do you report a problem with food? What do you do if you think you have food poisoning? First, know the symptoms of food poisoning for various pathogens: E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. You can report your illness to the government if you think that a problem with food (such as the Northfork Bison E. coli outbreak) purchased from a store is the problem. First, call your doctor to get necessary treatment. Many foodborne illnesses can have long term health complications and this should be noted on your medical … [Read more...]
Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Grows to 19 Sick; No Source Found
The Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has grown to include 19 ill persons. James Garrow of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health updated Food Poisoning Bulletin in an email. The Department cannot confirm whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The case count is accurate as of September 6, 2019. Public health officials continue investigating the source of the pathogen. The Health Alert stated that restaurants may be involved in this outbreak, but no specific restaurants have been named yet. The outbreak was originally reported on September 5, 2019. The age range of patients at that time was 7 to 90. This age range may have changed; but we don't know for sure. E. coli outbreaks in restaurants are not common, and most often are labeled "associated with" or "possible." … [Read more...]
MN State Fair E. coli Outbreak: Are These Outbreaks Common?
With the announcement yesterday of the MN State Fair E. coli outbreak that has sickened 11 people and hospitalized six, we were wondering how many other state and county fairs have had these serious outbreaks. Are these E. coli. outbreaks common at local, county, and state fairs? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. There have been quite a few E. coli outbreaks at state and county fairs over the years, and some have been deadly. These are the state and county fair outbreaks that have occurred since 2012: In 2012, a huge E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina sickened 106 people, including 65 children. Thirteen people were hospitalized in that outbreak, and one child died. Fair organizers banned petting zoos at the event after this outbreak. In … [Read more...]
Minnesota State Fair E. coli O157 Outbreak Sickens 11; 1 With HUS
An E. coli O157 outbreak associated with the Minnesota State Fair has sickened 11 people, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). This Minnesota State Fair E. coli outbreak was announced today. Evidence suggests that contact with livestock is a "key factor" in this outbreak. Patients interviewed by public health officials say that they visited the fair between August 25, 2019 and September 2, 2019. Illness onset dates range from August 29, 2019 to September 6, 2019. Whole genome sequencing indicates that the E. coli O157 strains are closely related. Six people were hospitalized; one remains in the hospital. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is potentially fatal. Cases range in age from 2 to 43 years. HUS is most … [Read more...]
Soy Nut Butter E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Studied in Journal of Pediatrics
The Journal of Pediatrics has published a study on the 2017 soy nut butter E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened 32 people, mostly children, in 12 states. That outbreak was linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, which is used as a substitute for peanut butter in many daycare settings and schools around the country. Twelve of the patients in this outbreak were hospitalized. Twenty-six of these illnesses occurred in children under the age of 18. Eight of these children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection. One adult also developed that complication. Twenty-five of the case patients ate the same brand of soy nut butter or attended schools or daycare centers that served the product. The … [Read more...]
