The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That's an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics. Do not eat or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may include basil imported from Mexico, unless you are absolutely certain it was not imported by Siga Logistics. If you don't know where the basil you want to use came from, don't use it. The last illness onset in this cyclosporiasis outbreak … [Read more...]
Charlie Horse Restaurant Worker Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A food worker at the Charlie Horse Restaurant and Lounge has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Marion County Health Department. The restaurant is located at 2426 East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Florida. That person worked from July 18 to August 1, 2019, and may have been infectious. People who were at the Charlie Horse Restaurant at any time during that period can call 352-644-2633 to reach the DOH-Marion County Epidemiology staff to ask questions. Officials are asking that healthcare providers and hospital emergency departments stay on alert to immediately report cases of hepatitis A and to identify people who. would benefit from vaccinations. The hepatitis A and immune globulin vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. That … [Read more...]
Red Lobster Employee in Largo, Florida Has Hepatitis A
A Red Lobster employee in Largo, Florida has tested positive for hepatitis A, according to news reports. There is no information about this issue on the Pinellas County Health Department website. The restaurant is located at 10500 East Ulmerton Road. That agency, along with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, conducted an inspection at the facility after receiving confirmation about the diagnosis. The state found almost 40 violations during the inspection. One of the violations was employees not properly washing their hands. Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated feces. Inspectors saw the staff handled dirty dishes, then serve food to customers without washing their hands. Another inspector saw a cook switch from working with raw food to ready-to-eat food without … [Read more...]
Cooper’s Hawk Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 80 to 100
The Cooper's Hawk cyclospora outbreak has sickened 80 to 100 people in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Officials have not yet identified a specific food or beverage that may have caused this outbreak, but there is a current multistate cyclospora outbreak that is linked to basil imported from Mexico. There are at least 132 people sick in 11 states in that outbreak. And there is a cyclospora outbreak in Minnesota, with at least 35 people sick, that is associated with three restaurants in that state. Just in the last three months, 580 people in the United States have been sickened with cyclosporiasis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Florida is just one of the 32 states with patients. These illnesses have occurred every summer in this country for … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Pizza Mia in Vero Beach, Florida
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...]
