The Florida Department of Health in Indian River has released a statement that a food service worker at Pizza Mia, at 1115 21st Street in Vero Beach, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. That person worked at that venue from July 19 through July 23, 2018 and may have been infectious. That means that anyone who ate at that Pizza Mia restaurant before July 22, 2019 is no longer eligible for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination, which is effective only if given within two weeks of exposure. The vaccines are being recommended for anyone who ate food or drank beverages at that restaurant during that time period. If you have had a hepatitis A vaccine in the past you don't need to take any action. People who are no longer eligible for a vaccine should monitor their health for … [Read more...]
Siga Logistics Basil Imported From Mexico May Be Source of Cyclospora Outbreaks
There are now six cyclospora outbreaks sickening people in several states around the country. What is the culprit? Past outbreaks have been linked to lettuce, raspberries, and cilantro. We may have an answer today: the FDA has just released information stating that there is a multistate outbreak of cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to Siga Logistics basil. The full company name is Siga Logistics de RL de CV that is located in Morelos, Mexico. The investigation is ongoing, but CDC's analysis of epidemiologic information indicates that the contaminated fresh basil is the likely cause of the illnesses. Fresh basil available at points of sale where people got sick was exported into the country by Siga Logistics. The FDA is working with the firm to facilitate a recall. These … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Bison Burgers E. coli O103 and O121 Outbreak
An E. coli O103 and O121 outbreak linked to Northfork Bison ground bison and Bison Burgers/Buffalo Burgers has sickened at least 21 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These products are imported from Canada. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (4), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (2), New York (9), and Pennsylvania (3). Eight people have been hospitalized. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, have been reported. Illness onset dates range from March 18 to June 18, 2019. The patient age range is from 6 to 79 years. Six people are sick with E. coli O103, 13 are sick with E. coli O121, and 2 people are sick with both of these pathogens. Epidemiologic and traceback information … [Read more...]
Pritzker Hageman Files First Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora Lawsuit
Pritzker Hageman attorneys filed the first lawsuit in the Cooper's' Hawk Winery cyclospora outbreak today, Friday, July 12, 2019. The suit was filed on behalf of Jacksonville resident Lekeysha Bentley, who became ill after eating food at that venue in Jacksonville, Florida in June 2019. The lawsuit (Filing number 92497394) was filed in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court. Because of her illness, Ms. Bentley suffered with debilitating symptoms for weeks. She has received treatment, but her symptoms have not abated. Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented many people who have been sickened in every major food poisoning outbreak in the last few years, said, "No one should get sick just because they decided to go out to eat for dinner. These patients can be … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak at Cooper’s Hawk Winery in FL Sickens 80
Almost 80 people have now been sickened in a cyclospora outbreak after eating at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant on Big Island Drive near the St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida, according to news reports. There is no information about this outbreak on the Duval County Health Department website. Many of those sickened have tested positive for cyclospora, which is a parasite that is often linked to fresh produce and can cause debilitating symptoms that may last for weeks. The restaurant, in a statement, said that the illnesses may be linked to fresh produce. Many of those sickened said they had a salad at the restaurant. Previous cyclospora outbreaks in the United States have been linked to raspberries, mesclun lettuce, cilantro, and last year to McDonald's salads … [Read more...]
Alleged Cyclospora Outbreak at Cooper’s Hawk Winery in Jacksonville, FL
News outlets are reporting that an alleged cyclospora outbreak has occurred after people ate at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, located in the Markets at Town Center near the St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida. People who belong to the Exchange Club held a banquet at that venue last month. Illnesses started in mid-June. Some of the restaurant's patrons still have symptoms, which is not unusual with cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by this parasite. Patients can be sick for weeks or months, and the illness can seem to resolve and then recur without warning. The Duval County Health Department is sending a survey to people who were at the restaurant last month and is examining lab tests. Results may not be back for several days. Several of the people who … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Piccolo Italian Market & Deli in Sarasota, FL
A food worker at the Piccolo Italian Market & Deli at 6518 Gateway Avenue in Sarasota, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Sarasota County Health Department. Laboratory confirmation of the illness was received on July 3, 2019. That person worked at the Piccolo Italian Market between June 21 and June 29, 2019. That means that anyone who ate food or drank beverages at the restaurant on June 21, 22, and 23rd is no longer eligible for a hepatitis A vaccination. The vaccines are only effective if given with two weeks of exposure. If you ate there on June 24 to the 29th, 2019, you should call your doctor about being vaccinated or visit your local county health department. Sarasota County Health Department is offering the vaccine at their main office at … [Read more...]
Silverthorn Country Club FL Employee Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
An employee at the Silverthorn Country Club in Spring Hill has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Florida Department of Health in Hernando County. The employee worked at that location between April 12 and April 30, 2019. That means that anyone who ate there on April 18, 2019 or later is still eligible to receive a hepatitis A vaccination. Those shots are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. It's too late for anyone who ate there before April 18 to get a shot; all those people can do is monitor themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A and see their doctor if they do appear. Anyone who ate there April 18, 2019 must be vaccinated today. Any customers who have questions about this can call the DOH-Hernando at 352-247-6111 and leave their information … [Read more...]
EPA Wants to Spray Antibiotics to Stop Citrus Greening Disease
Advocates from environmental and public health groups have delivered a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency asking them to delay a proposal to spray antibiotic on citrus fields to treat a pathogen that causes citrus greening disease, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Advocates think that this action could make bacterial antibiotic resistance worse. Citrus greening is a bacterial disease. Florida citrus trees are being destroyed by this pathogen and have been for more than 10 years. The pathogen is spread through an invasive insect. The bugs move through the tree's vascular tissue under the bark. Steven Roach, a senior analyst at Keep Antibiotics Working, said of the plan,"They are doing a huge experiment with limited monitoring." Officials estimate that … [Read more...]
Deadly E. coli O26 Outbreak Linked to Cargill Meat Solutions Ground Beef; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information about the deadly E. coli O26 outbreak linked to recalled ground beef from Cargill Meat Solutions. This outbreak has already been declared over. The link to Cargill beef was just announced yesterday by the FDA. The outbreak was originally announced in a USDA recall by Publix grocery stores in Florida. Eighteen people in four states were sickened in this E. coli O26 outbreak. Six of those patients were hospitalized because they were so ill. One person died. The case count by state is: Colorado (1), Florida (15), Massachusetts (1), and Tennessee (1). Illness onset dates ranged from July 5, 2018 to July 25, 2018. The person who died lived in Florida. The patient age range in this E. coli O26 outbreak is … [Read more...]
