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...]
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...]
San Diego County Fair E. coli Outbreak Has Now Sickened 10
The E. coli outbreak at the San Diego County Fair has now sickened 10 people, according to the San Diego Health & Human Services Agency. There is one more probable case that has not yet been confirmed. Three people have been hospitalized, and one 2-year-old child has died. Officials have still not found the source of the pathogen. All of the children who are sick visited the animal areas, petting zoo, or had other animal contact at the fair. County Environmental health re-inspected food facilities that were visited by the children and found no link to the cases. Unfortunately, E. coli outbreaks linked to animal attractions at fairs, petting zoos, and farm tourist attractions are nothing new. Almost every year children are sickened after visiting these venues. Earlier this … [Read more...]
Officials Say There May Be Another E. coli Case at San Diego County Fair
A new, unconfirmed case of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) illness that may be related to animals at the San Diego County Fair has been reported, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services. Lab results have confirmed a previously reported case. The new case is a 6-year-old boy who attended animal displays at the fair in June 2019 and started showing symptoms of the infection on June 26, 2019. He was not hospitalized and is recovering. There have been a total of five cases linked to contact with animals at the fair. Four are confirmed by lab tests and one is a probable case. Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.P.H., County public health officer said in a statement, "As we continue our investigation, more cases are likely to be reported. This is typical of any public … [Read more...]
