The FDA has announced that the romaine multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak is over after sickening 167 people in 27 states. The romaine lettuce that. made people sick is no longer on the market, since it was grown and harvested in the Salinas, California region and that area's growing season is over. The case count by state is: Arizona (4), California (8), Colorado (6), Delaware (1), Florida (4), Iowa (1), Idaho (4), Illinois (15), Maryland (5), Michigan (2), Minnesota (7), Montana (1), North Carolina (3), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (9), New Mexico (2), New York (3), Ohio (12), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (21), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (6), Virginia (6), Washington (6), and Wisconsin (35). Patient illness onset dates ranged from September 20, 2019 to … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation of Romaine Multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak
FDA Yiannas Statement on Salinas Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreaks
FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas has posted a statement on the Salinas romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and investigation. There are three separate outranks the FDA is tracking, caused by three different strains of E. coli O157:H7. They are: the large multistate outbreak linked to that lettuce, a small outbreak linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kit in the upper Midwest, and an outbreak associated with Evergreen restaurants in Seattle. There is a common grower between each of these outbreaks, and that grower is located in Salinas, California. However, romaine from this grower doesn't explain all of the illnesses in these outbreaks. The last reported illness for all of the outbreaks was December 21, 2019. Yiannas says … [Read more...]
Salinas Romaine E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Over After Sickening 167
The Salinas romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after sickening 167 people in 27 states. That is an increase of 29 more patients and two more states since the last outbreak update on December 19, 2019. Eighty-five people were hospitalized, 15 people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and there were no deaths. The CDC is no longer telling people to avoid romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley growing region in California, but the growing season is over in that area until later this year. Once again, no specific grower or producer was named in this outbreak, although several recalls of products were issued. The case count by state is: Arizona (4), California (8), Colorado (6), … [Read more...]
Salinas CA Romaine E. coli HUS Outbreak Investigated by FDA
The Salinas CA romaine E. coli HUS outbreak is being investigated by the FDA, which released a statement yesterday. At least 102 people are sick in 23 states. Fifty-eight people have been hospitalized, and ten patents have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection. The statement says that consumers should not eat romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, California, as well as products that have been recalled in relation to this investigation. Missa Bay recalled about 75,233 pounds of meat and chicken salad products on November 21, 2019. Romaine lettuce may be voluntarily labeled with a harvest region. If this label has the word "Salinas" on it, don't buy it or eat it. If the romaine you want to buy doesn't … [Read more...]
Stater Bros. Ground Beef Salmonella Dublin Outbreak Grows to 11 Sick
The Stater Bros. ground beef Salmonella Dublin outbreak has grown by one more person, making a total of 11 sick in 7 states so far in this multistate outbreak. Eight of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. One person in California has died. The case count by state is: California (2), Colorado (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Oklahoma (1), Texas (1), and Washington (1). Illness onset dates range from August 8, 2019 to October 20, 2019. The patient age range is from 39 to 74 years. Of nine people who gave information about their illness to public health officials, eight (89%) were hospitalized. That is a very high hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak, which is normally around 20%. In five ill persons, Salmonella was found in their blood, which means … [Read more...]
Stater Bros. Ground Beef Linked to Salmonella Dublin Outbreak
The USDA has posted a recall notice for Central Valley Meat Co.'s Stater Bros. ground beef that links that product to a deadly Salmonella Dublin outbreak that has sickened at least 10 people in 6 states. The notice states, "Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between ground beef products from Central Valley Meat Co., Inc., and this illness cluster." The company is recalling about 34,222 ponds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Dublin. These ground beef items were produced on July 13, 2019. They include: 1 pound chub packages of “STATER BROS. 100% PURE GROUND BEEF 96% LEAN 4% FAT” with lot 2049 on the retail label, lot 19204 … [Read more...]
Mystery Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick
The mystery deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened 24 people in 13 states and caused two deaths has been declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with no resolution. The outbreak notice states, "A specific food item, grocery store, food processor, or restaurant chain was not identified as the source of infections in the United States." People who were sickened in this outbreak were sickened by a strain of Listeria bacteria that was closely related genetically to Listeria that made people sick in a Canadian outbreak. That Canadian outbreak was linked to recalled Rosemount frozen cooked chicken. The Listeria outbreak in Canada was deemed over on November 6, 2019. The case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (4), … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Dublin Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef Sickens 10
A deadly Salmonella Dublin outbreak linked to ground beef has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 10 people in six states are sick. The announcement states, "Illnesses in this outbreak are more severe than expected for Salmonella. A total of 8 ill people were hospitalized, including one death reported from California." The case count by state is: California (2), Colorado (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from August 8, 2019 to September 22, 2019. The patient age range is from 48 to 74 years. Eighty percent of patients are male. This hospitalization rate is more than four times higher than the typical 20% hospitalization rate for Salmonella outbreaks. In five of the patients, Salmonella was … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Declared in Amador County, California
A Shigella outbreak has been declared in Amador County, California according to news reports. That county is located in the eastern part of Northern California and includes the cities of Jackson, Pine Grove, and Ione. Shigellosis is caused by the Shigella bacteria. Symptoms of this infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Some people can develop toxemia as a complication of this infection. Symptoms usually begin one to four days after exposure to the contagious bacteria. Dehydration is a serious complication of this infection. Some people may be carriers of the bacteria and not develop any symptoms at all. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor. You may be part of this Shigella outbreak. Shigella … [Read more...]
Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Announced; No Food Identified
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...]
