The FDA weighs in on the Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people in six states. The cookie dough is Chocolate Chip Cookie and S'Mores Bars. They were sold at Papa Murphy's franchises. Twelve of 14 patients told Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators that they ate the raw dough before they got sick. Papa Murphy's has notified franchise owners about this issue nationwide and has stopped selling the product. They destroyed all of the doughs at all stores. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the contamination and whether more products are linked to illnesses. The case count by state is: California (1), Idaho (4), Missouri (1), Oregon (4), Utah (2) and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from … [Read more...]
Eastern Idaho Campylobacter Outbreak Associated with Raw Milk
An Eastern Idaho Campylobacter outbreak is associated with the consumption of raw milk, according to a notice posted on that agency's Facebook page. Eastern Idaho Public Health is working in conjunction with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to educate the public about the inherent risks of consuming unpasteurized dairy products. Raw, or unpasteurized, milk and dairy products are associated with many food poisoning outbreaks and illnesses in the past several decades. Pathogens linked to these types of products include Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, Brucella, and Listeria monocytogenes. The notice did not state how many people are sick, the patient age range, illness onset date, or whether or not anyone has been … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Black Bear Diner on West State St. in Boise, ID
A food service worker at the Black Bear Diner on West State Street in Boise, Idaho has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Central Health District in Idaho. That restaurant is located at 7530 West State Street in Boise. The employee only worked at the northwest Boise location. That is under different ownership from the south Boise location of a restaurant that shares the same name. The employee worked at the State Street Black Bear Diner on January 26, 30, 31 of 2020, and February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of 2020. Unfortunately, six of those dates: January 26, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, and 6, 2020 are outside the two week window when hepatitis A vaccinations are effective. While the risk of contracting a hepatitis A infection from a food service worker is … [Read more...]
CDC Investigating E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Outbreak Including MD and WI Illnesses
An E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak that includes illnesses reported by Maryland and Wisconsin has just been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Maryland outbreak was announced on November 18, 2019, and the Wisconsin outbreak was announced on November 16, 2019, although the first indication of the Wisconsin illnesses was posted on ProMED-mail. So far, the CDC says that 17 people are sick in 8 states. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (2), Colorado (1), Idaho (3), Maryland (2), Montana (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (6). The case count for Maryland posted by the CDC is different from the case count posted by the Maryland Department of Health, which is seven sick. So there may be as many as 22 people who are ill in this … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A In Food Worker at Two Idaho Restaurants
Two workers at two different restaurants in southwestern Idaho have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Central District Health Department. There is a hepatitis A outbreak in that state that has been ongoing since January 2019. One of the sick food workers was at Red Robin at 211 West Parkcenter Boulevard in Boise, and the other worked at the Frontier Club at 116 East Broadway Avenue in Meridian, Idaho. If you were at customer at either of those venues on these dates listed below, ask your doctor about getting a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. The Frontier Club employee worked these days and shifts while contagious: Friday, August 2 from 9 pm to close (approx. 2 am) Saturday, August 3 from 9 pm to close (approx. 2 am) The Red Robin employee … [Read more...]
Patients Diagnosed with HUS in the E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Live in CA, ID, MN, and PA
In the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, 17 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. That potentially deadly complication can occur in about 5 to 10% of patients in every Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. But in this outbreak, which has sickened 149 people in 29 states and has hosptialized 54, the HUS rate is 13% which is quite high. This could be because there are children, who are more likely to develop HUS than adults, among the patients. Where do those HUS patients live? We contacted the health departments of the states involved in this outbreak and asked. The California Department of Public Health stated that as of May 9, 2018, there are 30 people sickened in this outbreak in … [Read more...]
Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho Hardest Hit by E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce; Some May Sue
The E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce is the largest of its kind since 2006. As of May 8, 2018, 149 people living in 29 states are sick. Sixty-four people have been hospitalized, and seventeen have developed HUS. One person, who lived in California, has died. The states that are hardest hit are Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. Most patients ate chopped romaine lettuce before their illnesses began. In Minnesota, 10 people are sick. California has the largest number of case patients, with 30 ill. In Pennsylvania, 20 people are sick. And in Idaho, there are 11 people with this infection. Public health officials have still not figured out exactly which farm or farms the lettuce came from. One, Harrison Farms in Yuma, Arizona, grew some of … [Read more...]
Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Has Sickened 121; One Death Reported From California
The multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 HUS infections that is linked to romaine lettuce has grown again. Now 121 people in 25 states have been sickened by this pathogenic bacteria. One person, in California, has died. Fifty two people, or 51% of the patients, have been hospitalized. Fourteen people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Twenty-three more ill persons from 10 states were added since the last update last week. Three more states have been added to the case count: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Utah. Investigators are still searching for the source of lettuce that sickened most of these patients. They identified Harrison Farms in Yuma, Arizona as the source of whole romaine heads that sickened eight people at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Facility in … [Read more...]
California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania Hard Hit by E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce
The E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has sickened 84 people in 19 states. Forty-two of those patients have been hospitalized, and nine people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure. But three states have borne the brunt of that outbreak. California has 13 patients, Idaho has 10, and Pennsylvania has 18. We don't know why those states have more patients in this outbreak than others. Federal and state officials are trying to pinpoint the retailers, restaurants, and distributors who sold the lettuce that has sickened people, but they are having a difficult time. All officials have been able to tell us is to avoid eating any type of romaine lettuce form the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Traceback investigations have been able … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grows to 84 Sick
The multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has now grown to include 84 sick in 19 states. Thirty-one more people from 10 states have been added since the last update a week ago. Three more states have reported ill persons: Colorado, Georgia, and South Dakota. The most recent illness started on April 12, 2018. This outbreak will likely grow, since it takes a few weeks from the time a person begins feeling sick, to when the infection is diagnosed and reported to government officials. The information still indicates that romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region is the source of this outbreak. But investigators still have not identified a common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand of romaine. Of the eighty-four people sick, 42 people … [Read more...]
