The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a study about a trichinellosis outbreak in California last year that was linked to consumption of privately raised raw boar meat. The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the week of March 2, 2018. In January 2017, 12 cases of trichinellosis were reported among people who attended an event in December 2017. Larb, a traditional Loatian raw pork dish, was served. The pork came from a domesticated wild boar which was raised and slaughtered on private farm in Northern California. Leftover samples of the food revealed Trichinella spiralis. Nine of those patients were hospitalized with sepsis. Seven had acute kidney injury. Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection. It used to be linked to … [Read more...]
Trichinellosis Outbreak in California Was Linked to Consumption of Privately Raised Raw Boar Meat
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Coconut Tree Shredded Frozen Coconut Ends
The Salmonella outbreak that is linked to recalled Coconut Tree shredded frozen coconut is over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 27 people were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- or Salmonella Newport in nine states. Six people were hospitalized in this outbreak. No deaths were reported. All epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence found that Coconut Tree brand frozen shredded coconut, which was distributed by Evershing Trading Company, was the likely source of this Salmonella outbreak. Public health officials used the PulseNet system to identify people who were part of this outbreak. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were used to identify the DNA of the … [Read more...]
California Hard Hit in Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Frozen Coconut
California has been hard hit in the Salmonella outbreak that is linked to recalled Evershing frozen shredded coconut. As of January 17, 2018, nine people are sick in that state, according to the CDC. This outbreak had an unusual start. Officials at the Massachusetts Department of Health were notified about at least one person who was sick with an unusual strain of Salmonella bacteria in November 2017. One of the patients ate an "Asian-style dessert drink" at a restaurant. We don't know what the actual drink was; it could have been a smoothie, a cocktail, or blended ice cream. The drink was made with frozen shredded coconut. Early testing identified Salmonella Newport bacteria, which was related to an isolate taken from an ill person in Massachusetts. Public health officials … [Read more...]
Health Canada Says E. coli O157 Outbreak In That Country Linked to Romaine Lettuce Over
Health Canada says that the E. coli O157 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce in that country is over. At least 42 people in 5 provinces were sickened in this outbreak. As of January 10, 2018, there were 42 cases of illness in this E. coli O157 outbreak that were reported in five eastern provinces: Ontario (8), Quebec (15), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). Individuals became sick in November and early December 2017. Seventeen individuals were hospitalized because their illnesses were so severe. One person died in this E. coli O157 outbreak. Patients were between the ages of 3 and 85 years of age. The majority of cases (74%) were female. Most of those who were sickened said they ate romaine lettuce the week before they got sick. Patients ate … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Associated with Leafy Greens; Romaine?
The deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak in the United States that is associated with leafy greens and may be linked to romaine lettuce has been updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC, fifteen states, and the FDA are investigating the outbreak. As of January 10, 2018, 24 people are sick. That's an increase of seven illnesses since the initial report of the outbreak on December 28, 2017. The last reported illness started on December 12, 2017. The case count by state is: California (4), Connecticut (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Maryland (3), Michigan (1), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), Vermont (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). Illnesses began on dates ranging from November 15, 2017 to … [Read more...]
FDA Commissioner Comments on Deadly E. coli O57:H7 HUS Outbreak That May Be Linked to Romaine Lettuce
The FDA Commissioner tweeted a comment yesterday on the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak in the United States that may be linked to romaine lettuce. He said "Illness onsets among reported cases occurred in late November and early December, so the source of these cases likely is no longer on the market." Romaine lettuce has a shelf life of about a few days to more than a week. The heads have a shelf life of 7 to 10 days, while chopped or leaf lettuce products have a shelf life of 3 to 5 days. While the lettuce that may have caused the illnesses is no longer on the market, we do not know where the products were sold, or where the leafy green was grown, harvested, or processed. There is an outbreak in Canada that is linked to romaine lettuce. At least 41 people were sickened in … [Read more...]
Rep. DeLauro Wants Answers on the Deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak That May be Associated with Romaine Lettuce
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday, asking for information on the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak "which is responsible for 58 infections and 2 deaths in the United States and Canada." The Congresswoman is alarmed by the CDC's response to the outbreak, which was confirmed on December 28, 2017. No more information has been released to the public about this outbreak since then. DeLauro added that, "CDC confirmed the outbreak on December 28 - almost a month and a half after the first infection. As with any food safety threat, foodborne illness represents a grave risk to the health and wellbeing of consumers across our nation, particularly children and the elderly.” She added, "CDC’s stunning lack of … [Read more...]
Five Hospitalized, Two HUS, and One Death in E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
Five people have been hospitalized, two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one person has died in the multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with romaine lettuce, Brittany Behm, Public Affairs Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Food Poisoning Bulletin. At least 17 people are sick in 13 states. The states where ill persons live are California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington. Each state, except for California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, has one patient. In Canada, at least 41 people in five provinces are sick, and one person has died, according to Public Health Canada. In that country, officials are recommending … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Outbreak Among Marines at Camp Pendleton Was the 5th Largest Outbreak of 2017
Number five of the top 10 food poisoning outbreaks of 2017 was the E. coli HUS outbreak at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Edson Range at Camp Pendleton, California. As of November 3, 2017, about 69 Marines recruits had contracted this infection. More than a dozen recruits were hospitalized off base, and the rest were cared for on base. Nine of the Marines developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of this infection that can cause kidney failure. The cause of this outbreak was never announced to the public. And the public was never told what was investigated. Other E. coli HUS outbreaks have been linked to anything from an ill employee who worked with food, to contaminated food or water. Brigadier General William Jurney, who is … [Read more...]
Top Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2017: Deadly Botulism in Nacho Cheese Sauce at Valley Oak Food and Fuel
The Number 9 food poisoning outbreak of 2017 was the deadly botulism outbreak linked to nacho cheese sauce sold at Valley Oak and Fuel in Walnut Grove, California in May. Ten people were sickened in this outbreak, and one person died. All ten of the patients were hospitalized in serious condition. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that nacho cheese sauce that was sold at that gas station tested positive for the botulinum toxin. And the toxin matched samples taken from the 10 patients. Gehls Nacho Cheese Sauce was impounded during an inspection conducted at the gas station. Officials did not confirm that Gehls nacho cheese sauce was the source of the toxin; and we do not know how the product was contaminated. Low acid foods such as this cheese sauce can be a … [Read more...]
