An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in King County, Washington state has sickened at least seven people, according to the King County Department of Public Health. The notice stated that "at this time, this outbreak does not appear to be related to a multistate outbreak initially found in at least four different states." Four people have been hospitalized, and three children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Six of the patients have recovered, and one is currently recovering. The patient age range is from 11 months to 35 years. Five cases are among children under the age of 15. The illness onset date is from December 31, 2021 to August 18 2022, with six of the cases reported since June 26, 2022. Six of the seven patients had illness onset … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table updated with more information about the current outbreaks, including two cyclospora outbreaks, one E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and two new Salmonella outbreaks. Case counts have been adjusted. The investigation into the Daily Harvest French Lentils outbreak has not advanced. For the cyclospora outbreaks, cases from one outbreak have been "re-grouped" into the other outbreak based on genomic data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One outbreak increased from 6 cases to 70, and the other case count was adjusted downward from 98 to 41. This means that the government has more ability to identify the gene sequences in cyclospora oocysts than in previous outbreaks. For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in a "not yet identified … [Read more...]
Three New Outbreaks on FDA CORE Investigation Table
Three new outbreaks have been posted on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and two Salmonella outbreaks have been added. And two outbreak investigations have ended. This table doesn't tell us very much about these outbreaks. And unless there is some action that consumers can take, such as a recall, the FDA doesn't identify any probable cause. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 29 people in Michigan and Ohio. Nine people are hospitalized. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation. A new Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has sickened at least 19 people. No traceback has been initiated in that outbreak. And a new Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has sickened at least 44 people. Traceback has been initiated in that … [Read more...]
Swimming Pool E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in PA in 2021; 15 Sick
A swimming pool E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Pennsylvania in June 2021 sickened 15 children, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The patients were ages 4 to 14; all swam at the pool on May 31, 2021, the opening date, and had no other known common exposure. On June 7, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health received multiple reports of gastrointestinal illness from patrons of a community swimming pool. Two people reported positive Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Clostridioides difficile tests from stool specimens. The government ordered the pool closed, and initiated an outbreak response. Confirmed cases were defined as isolation of E. coli O157:H7 or detection of Shiga toxin or Shiga toxin genes from stool specimens of persons who … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Outbreak Table; More Illnesses Added
The FDA updates CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. More illnesses have been added to two mystery Salmonella outbreaks and one mystery Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. And a new "adverse event series" that is associated with a "frozen food product," has been added. That product is not identified, but it is most likely the Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leeks Crumble product, which is associated with almost 500 adverse events and has been recalled. There are currently 10 active outbreak investigations. The frozen food outbreak has 107 adverse event reports listed. A recall has been issued, traceback has begun, an on-site inspection has been conducted, and sample collections have been analyzed. Yesterday Fresh Harvest issued a statement saying that the FDA testing has found no pathogens … [Read more...]
USDA Adds Possible Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak to Table
The USDA adds a possible beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to its Outbreak Investigation Table. The Salmonella outbreak linked to chicken is still on the table. No more information is available about either of these outbreaks. The last outbreak of USDA-regulated foods that was identified and solved was the 2021 Salmonella Hadar outbreak linked to ground turkey that sickened at least 33 people in 14 states and hospitalized four. This outbreak is most likely not linked to ground beef, since the USDA stipulates whether or not the product is ground in its table. Outbreaks associated with whole cuts are not common. The last outbreak linked to whole beef cuts was in 2009, when 21 people in 16 states were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 infections. Beef products from National Steak and … [Read more...]
Alabama E. coli Outbreak Sickens Four Children, Two WIth Rotavirus
An Alabama E. coli outbreak has sickened four children in the northeastern part of the state. In addition, the Alabama Department of Public Health is investigating two cases of rotavirus. Rotavirus was the leading cause of severe diarrhea among infanta and young children in the U.S. before the vaccine for this pathogen was introduced in 2006. The incident of this illness has decreased significantly after the vaccine. There is no more information about this E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, including if food is involved or if there is another source such as animals. We do not know the ages of the four sick children, when they got sick, or if any of them have been hospitalized or have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Children under the age of … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Deadly Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli Outbreak
The CDC is weighing in on the deadly Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 10 people in four states. As of March 3, 2022, the outbreak is over. One death has occurred. This is the first time that has been reported. The FDA investigation report does not mention this death. Two brands of this product, including Simple Truth and Nature's Basket, were associated with this outbreak. The case count is: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The patient age range is from 26 to 79 years. Illness onset dates ranged from November 27, 2021 to December 9, 2021. Of 10 people who gave information to public health officials, four were hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. One … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, with 13 people sick. Traceback has been initiated, but no inspection has been started, and there has been no sample collection or analyzing. We do not know the patient case count by state, patient age ranges, or illness onset dates. The FDA will not release much more information about this outbreak unless there are some things that the public can do to protect itself. There are still four active outbreak investigations on the table. The E. coli O121:H19 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, which sickened at least four people, has been closed with no resolution. No brand or farm or even a growing area was named. The four active outbreaks are: An Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26 … [Read more...]
Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26 Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new outbreak has been listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table: Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26 that is not linked to any specific food. At least 16 people are sick in this unusual outbreak. This particular serovar has not often been seen in the United States before, but has been observed occasionally in Europe. Enteroinvasive E. coli bacteria (EIEC) do not produce Shiga toxins. This particular pathogen is closely related to Shigella and scientists think it causes watery diarrhea through invasion of epithelial cells in the colon. Symptoms of this infection include abdominal cramps, lethargy, abdominal pain and cramps, and occasionally fever. There is not much information available on the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy for this infection. So far, no recall has … [Read more...]
