The state of California has been dealing with the largest hepatitis A outbreak in the state's history. The virus is being spread person-to-person, but since several businesses have reported ill employees in the past few weeks, contaminated food may also be to blame. As of October 6, 2017, there are 576 cases of hepatitis A in that state. Three hundred forty-two people have been hospitalized, which is a very high number for this type of outbreak. And the number of vaccinations distributed by the California Department of Public Heath has reached more than 80,000. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency because of a lack of vaccines in the hepatitis A outbreak in that state that has killed eighteen people. This means the California Department of Public Health can buy and … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A at MacKenzie’s Sports Bar in Sacramento, CA
An employee at MacKenzie's Sports Bar and Grille at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, California has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Sacramento Bee. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages there from September 12 to September 22, 2017 should contact their doctor. If you ate or drank anything at that restaurant before September 20, 2017 it's too late to get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. Those shots are only good for two weeks after possible exposure. All you can do is monitor yourself for the symptoms of this illness. But if you ate there on September 20, 21, or 22, you can get a vaccination. The virus is spread through fecal matter from an infected person. If that person doesn't wash their hands well after using the bathroom or preparing food … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at World Famous Restaurant in CA
The San Diego Department of Public Health is advising consumers that if they ate at the World Famous restaurant at 711 Pacific Beach Drive in San Diego, California on seven specific dates, at specific times, they may have been exposed to hepatitis A. San Diego is battling a huge hepatitis A outbreak. In fact, a public health emergency was declared in San Diego County the first week of September, 2017. Most people sickened are the homeless, but there have been illnesses among people who aren't in that category. Officials say it's too early to tell if this case is linked to that current outbreak. The dates and times of possible exposure are: August 28, 29, and 30, 2017 between 3:00 p and 11:00 pm; September 3 and 4, 2017 between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm; and September 10 and 11 from … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Yoshinoya Restaurant in Garden Grove, CA
A Salmonella outbreak at Yoshinoya restaurant at 13512 Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, California sickened at least 20 people in July 2017, Jessica Good, Public Information Manager of Orange County Public Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. Information about this outbreak was not released to the public at the time. One person was hospitalized in this outbreak, and public health officials are still gathering information on a couple of cases. Illness onset dates ranged from July 17 to July 31, 2017 after patients ate at the facility from July 14 to July 21, 2017. The restaurant was closed for corrective actions on August 3, 2017. No cases have been identified in people who have eaten at the restaurant since it reopened on August 4, 2017. The symptoms of a Salmonella food … [Read more...]
Papaya Salmonella Anatum Outbreak Updated by the CDC
The Salmonella Anatum outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has been updated by the CDC. There are four separate outbreaks linked to that fruit. The case count in this outbreak is 14 people sickened in 3 states. Five people have been hospitalized, and one person in California has died. The DC is also investigating six other ill persons whose isolates match the isolates in this outbreak. They are trying to determine if these "more recent illnesses" are also linked to the Bravo Produce Maradol papayas. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (12), and Colorado (1). Illnesses began on on dates ranging from December 20, 2016 to April 8, 2017. The ill persons were discovered from data stored on PulseNet, but government officials did not know the source of the … [Read more...]
California Hard Hit in Deadly Salmonella Papaya Outbreak
California has been hard hit in the fourth deadly Salmonella papaya outbreak. There are four outbreaks connected to Maradol papayas that were imported from Mexico. This outbreak was announced by the CDC this week. No one living in California has been sickened in the other three outbreaks. This outbreak was caused by Salmonella Anatum. Fourteen people were sickened, including 12 in California. One person in California has died. Five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, for a 42% hospitalization rate. That is much higher than the typical 22% hospitalization rate in most Salmonella outbreaks. This could be because the bacteria is resistant to antibiotics, the fruit may have been contaminated with a lot of bacteria, or the bacteria was unusually virulent. This outbreak … [Read more...]
Deadly Fourth Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Maradol Papayas
A deadly fourth Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this outbreak, linked to Salmonella Anatum infections, 14 people in 3 states are sick. Five people have been hospitalized. One person in California has died. Three other outbreaks are also linked to imported Maradol papayas. In those outbreaks, 215 people have been sickened. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (12), and Colorado (1). This outbreak is one of four separate outbreaks linked to Maradol papayas imported from Mexico. Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 20, 2017 to April 8, 2017. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 85, with a median age of 38. Ninety-two percent of patients are … [Read more...]
Lake Wildwood Beach E. coli-HUS Outbreak Sickens 9 Children in CA
The E. coli outbreak that is possibly linked to Lake Wildwood Beach in California has now sickened nine young children, according to the Nevada County Public Health Department (NCPHD. The outbreak started on July 27, 2017. As of August 2, 2017, nine children are sick. Six of those children have been hospitalized; two of those patients have returned home. Three of the hospitalized children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. One adult closely associated with one of the sick children has also been diagnosed with an E. coli infection. Young children are most likely to develop HUS after an E. coli infection. Shiga toxins released by the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream, killing red blood cells which then travel to the kidneys and … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Associated with Lake Wildwood Main Beach, CA
Five young children have been sickened after allegedly swimming at Lake Wildwood Main Beach, according to the Nevada County Public Health Department in California. Tests for three of the children are preliminarily positive for E. coli infections. Three of the children have been hospitalized. News reports state that others, including adults, may be sick as well. The Lake Wildwood Main Beach area was closed temporarily as a precaution late last week. Public health officials collected water samples near the shoreline and the swim area. The Main Beach and swimming area are closed now, because test results received on July 29, 2017 showed elevated fecal coliform, which are bacteria that cause serious illness. The Health Department is working with the Nevada County Environmental Health … [Read more...]
CDPH Releases Info about 2015 Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released an investigation about the 2015 Campylobacter outbreak associated with Claravale Farm brand raw milk. In March 2015, the CDPH Infectious Diseases Brand identified three patients who live in Santa Cruz County with Campylobacter infections. All three patients reported consuming Claravale brand raw milk before they got sick. Eventually, seven total case patients were identified. One lived in Marin County, one in Orange County, and five in Santa Cruz county. Two of those patients were hospitalized. Illness onset dates ranged from February 16 to March 25, 2017. Campylobacter isolates were collected from three of the patients and analyzed by pulsed field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Those isolates all had the same primary … [Read more...]
