A norovirus outbreak at Gerry's Donuts in Ellington, Connecticut has sickened an undetermined number of people, according to a press release issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. That agency is collaborating with the North Central District Health Department and the State Laboratory to investigate this outbreak. This is the second norovirus outbreak reported to the health department so far in 2021. The illnesses have been confirmed through lab tests to be caused by norovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. On May 14, 2021, the North Central District Health Department issued a warning to consumers, telling them to not eat products from that restaurant. That press release stated that they have had "several reports" of gastrointestinal … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Against All El Abuelito Cheese In Listeria Outbreak Investigation
The FDA warns against all El Abuelito cheese in the most current Listeria monocytogenes outbreak investigation notice that was posted today. The notice states, "Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the severity of Listeria infection, the FDA is expanding its warning to include all El Abuelito brand cheeses until more information is known. According to the firmâs website, this includes queso fresco, Oaxaca cheese, cotija cheese, and crema." Whole genome sequencing has linked El Abuelito queso fresco cheese to the outbreak. On February 19, 2021, tests conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in a sample of the cheese purchased at a grocery store in that state is a match to the outbreak strain. El Abuelito Cheese recalled … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Cheese Listeria Sample Matches Outbreak Strain
The El Abuelito cheese Listeria monocytogenes sample matches the outbreak strain, according to a notice from the FDA. The Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of that cheese where a sick person who lives in that state bought cheeses. Sample analysis found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco cheese that was sold in 10 ounce packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. On February 19, 2021, whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis that was conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory found that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain. On February 19, 2021, El Abuelito Cheese of Paterson, New Jersey recalled all Queso Fresco products with "sell by" … [Read more...]
Connecticut Warns of Listeria in El Abuelito Queso Fresco Cheese; One Ill
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is warning consumers that there is Listeria in El Abuelito Queso Fresco cheese. Laboratory testing found the pathogen in one lot of that cheese that was collected from a Connecticut retail food store last week. One Connecticut resident is sick after allegedly eating that brand. There is a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to Hispanic-style soft and fresh cheeses that the FDA and CDC announced late last week. Seven people in four states are sick in that outbreak; one of the patients lives in Connecticut. The others live in Maryland (4), New York (1), and Virginia (1). Connecticut Department of Health officials are advising consumers not to eat any El Abuelito Queso Fresco cheese until further notice. And also … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In on Cavi Papaya Salmonella Uganda Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Cavi papaya Salmonella Uganda outbreak, declaring the outbreak over as of September 12, 2019, with 81 people sick in 9 states. That's an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more affected state since the last update. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so ill. No deaths were reported. The case count by state is: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 2019 to July 16, 2019. Most of the illnesses occurred since April, 2019. The patient age range is from less than one year to 90 years. Of 48 people who identified their ethnicity, 31, or 65%, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Uganda Outbreak Potentially Linked to Cavi Papayas Ends with 81 Sick
The Salmonella Uganda outbreak potentially linked to Cavi papayas imported from Mexico by Agroson's LLC has ended with 81 sick in 9 states, according to the CDC; the FDA's investigational activities are still ongoing. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. That's an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more state since the last update in July 2019. No deaths have been reported. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). The last illness onset date was July 16, 2019. The papayas potentially linked to this outbreak are no longer available for purchase, so the FDA says that consumers no longer need to avoid or withhold … [Read more...]
Agroson’s Will Not Recall Cavi Papayas Likely Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Salmonella Uganda outbreak likely linked to fresh papayas imported from Mexico, stating that they have asked Agroson's LLC, the distributor of the Cavi brand of papayas, to recall that product. Agroson's has refused to initiate a recall. The FDA has contacted the company's wholesale customers to make sure that the fruit is no longer for sale, has been discarded, or has not been further processed or frozen. The FDA is recommending that consumers in all states not eat Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas and should throw them away. If you can't determine the brand of papayas you purchased, discard them. And retailers, restaurants and other food service providers should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas under the Cavi brand. The update also states that … [Read more...]
More Information on Salmonella Uganda Papaya Outbreak
The FDA has provided a bit more information about the Salmonella Uganda papaya outbreak that is linked to the fruit imported from Mexico. Traceback information indicates that whole, fresh papayas imported by Agroson's LLC of Bronx, New York likely made people sick. The papayas are sold under the brand name Cavi. To date, none of the fruit tested so far has been positive for the outbreak strain. The FDA has asked Agroson's to recall its Cavi brand papayas but no recall has been issued. The case count stands at 71 sick; 69 live in six states in the Northeast United States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. One patient from Florida traveled to Connecticut before getting sick, and another patient from Texas traveled to New York before … [Read more...]
Cavi Papayas From Agroson’s Linked to Salmonella Uganda Outbreak
Cavi papayas from Agroson's LLC are now linked to the Salmonella Uganda outbreak that was just announced by the CDC. Now 71 people in 8 states are sick. Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (18), New York (27), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 1029 through June 16, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 90. Of 45 people who have provided information to investigators, 60% have been hospitalized. This is three times the hospitalization rate in a typical Salmonella outbreak. This particular strain of Salmonella Uganda is resistant to several antibiotics, which may explain the … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Salmonella Uganda Papaya Outbreak
Update: The CDC now says that Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are linked to this outbreak. The FDA has released information about the Salmonella Uganda papaya outbreak that has sickened at least 62 people in 8 states. the FDA is increasing import screening for whole, fresh papayas and will continue to investigate the sauce and source of this outbreak. They are also tracking distribution of these products. Preliminary analysis shows that whole, fresh papayas from Mexico are potentially linked to this outbreak. The papayas were distributed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Consumers in those states should not consume any whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico and should throw them away. The FDA is … [Read more...]
