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...]
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...]
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...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Sun View Produce in Chicago
A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least four people is associated with Sun View Produce grocery store in Chicago, Illinois. The outbreak started in early July 2019. The patients got sick after eating pork tamales or carnitas that were served from the deli section at that store. Sun View Produce is located at 6110 West 63rd Street in Chicago. If you ate food purchased from the deli section at that store since July 1, 2019, you may have been exposed to Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of this illness include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and symptoms of dehydration. If you have been ill with these symptoms, see your doctor. If you have pork tamales, carnitas, or other hot foods that were purchased from this deli since July 1, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Brixx and Barley Restaurant in Long Beach, NY
A Salmonella outbreak at the Brixx and Barley Restaurant in Long Beach, New York has sickened people. There was no mention of patient numbers, age ranges, or all of the illness onset dates in the statement by the Nassau County Department of Health. We don't know whether or not any patients have been hospitalized. And there is no mention of a possible food source that is being investigated. The Brixx and Barley restaurant has been closed by the Department of health while the investigation is conducted. The restaurant is located at 152 West Park Avenue in Long Beach. Officials think that this outbreak could date back to early July 2019. Salmonella outbreaks at restaurants in the past have been linked to tomatoes, raw tuna, and eggs. The foods that are most often associated with … [Read more...]
No Answers To Deadly San Diego E. coli Outbreak at County Fair
The San Diego Health & Human Services Agency has released a report stating that they were not able to find answers to the deadly San Diego E. coli outbreak that sickened people who visited the county fair in June 2019. The outbreak was first reported on June 28, 2019, with four pediatric cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections. As of July 31, 2019, there are 11 confirmed cases and 2 probable cases in this outbreak. Three people were hospitalized because they were so sick, and one child has died. The outbreak was caused by a specific strain of E. coli O157:H7. After the outbreak, visits to the animal exhibits at the fair were restricted. The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health inspectors conducted investigations at the food booths that were visited by … [Read more...]
Sisseton South Dakota E. coli Outbreak Sickens Eight Children
A Sisseton South Dakota E. coli outbreak has sickened eight children, according to news reports. The South Dakota Department of Health is investigating this outbreak. Some of the patients have been hospitalized, but we don't know how many. We also don't know if any of the children has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a serious complication of an E. coli infection. Dr. Joshua Clayton, the state epidemiologist, told the Aberdeen News that the source of the pathogen has not been identified. The Department of Health was notified about the outbreak last week by either a physician or a hospital after the first infection was confirmed. And he said that the disease can be spread person-to-person. While some of the patients may have gone to … [Read more...]
Imported Fresh Basil Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 132 in 11 States
A cyclospora outbreak linked to imported fresh basil has sickened at least 132 people in 11 states, according to the FDA. The basil was by the firm Siga Logistics de RL de CV, located in Morelos, Mexico. The FDA has requested a voluntary recall of the basil and the firm has agreed. We don't know the case count by state yet, illness onset dates, or the patient age range, but ill people live in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Exposures occurred at restaurants in four states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics from Morelos, Mexico. That includes … [Read more...]
Siga Logistics Basil Imported From Mexico May Be Source of Cyclospora Outbreaks
There are now six cyclospora outbreaks sickening people in several states around the country. What is the culprit? Past outbreaks have been linked to lettuce, raspberries, and cilantro. We may have an answer today: the FDA has just released information stating that there is a multistate outbreak of cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to Siga Logistics basil. The full company name is Siga Logistics de RL de CV that is located in Morelos, Mexico. The investigation is ongoing, but CDC's analysis of epidemiologic information indicates that the contaminated fresh basil is the likely cause of the illnesses. Fresh basil available at points of sale where people got sick was exported into the country by Siga Logistics. The FDA is working with the firm to facilitate a recall. These … [Read more...]
Northern Virginia Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened At Least 55
A cyclospora outbreak in Northern Virginia and the Arlington area has sickened at least 55 people, according to the Virginia Department of Health. This is a significant increase in cases reported since mid June 2019. There are 15 cyclosporiasis cases in Northern Virginia, and more than 40 people sick from "two large businesses in the area," are under investigation for suspected cyclosporiasis. The businesses are not named. And a food or water source of this outbreak has not been identified. The Virginia Department of Health is working with state, local, and federal health officials to investigate this increase. Northern Virginia Health Districts involved in this investigation include Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax (Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and Falls Church), Loudoun, … [Read more...]
