A possible Illinois outbreak may be associated with a Jimmy John's restaurant, according to a piece in The Pantagraph, Many of those sickened were student athletes who go to school at Illinois State University (ISU). The first reports of illnesses were received by the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) on April 7, 2021. One Jimmy John's restaurant, located at 203 West Market Street in Bloomington, Illinois, was temporarily closed, but no official is stating that there is any connection between that facility and any illnesses. There are five Jimmy John's locations in the area. According to iwaspoisoned.com, public officials are investigating "multiple reports" of illness in that county. The MCHD Communicable Disease Division is trying to discover the exact cause of the … [Read more...]
Arby’s Norovirus Outbreak in Springfield, Illinois Sickens 92
An Arby's norovirus outbreak in Springfield, Illinois has sickened at least 92 people and the restaurant has closed for a second time in less than a month. That restaurant is located at 3009 South Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. Sangamon County public health officials confirmed to News Channel 20 that norovirus is the cause of the illnesses. Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that causes symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Illness onset is quick, usually within a couple of hours, and the illness resolves quickly, often with a day or two, with patients typically not needing medical attention. The illness is spread person-to-person, through contact with contaminated surfaces, and through contaminated food and drink. The restaurant closed in late February after about … [Read more...]
Thomson International Onion Salmonella Outbreak Number One of 2020
The Thomson International onion Salmonella Newport outbreak was the number one multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020, sickening at least 1,127 people in 48 states. One hundred sixty seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state is: Alaska (25), Alabama (2), Arizona (39), Arkansas (2), California (128), Colorado (32), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (43), Illinois (54), Indiana (4), Iowa (31), Kansas (3), Kentucky (3), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (19), Mississippi (5), Missouri (11), Montana (72), Nebraska (10), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (12), New Mexico (3), New York (14), North Carolina (6), North Dakota (9), Ohio (11), … [Read more...]
CDC Investigates Third Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; May be Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a third mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people in 5 states. The other two outbreaks, which were announced earlier this month, have sickened a total of 44 people. And the outbreak notices seem to suggest that the illnesses may be associated with romaine lettuce and/or restaurants. In this new outbreak, the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was found in a sample of recalled Tanimura & Antle single head romaine lettuce by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. But the government is insisting that isn't enough to link the romaine to the outbreak. They are still investigating to see if more products may be contaminated with the pathogen. Investigators are … [Read more...]
Third E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak May Be Linked to Romaine
At the end of October the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA announced two distinct E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that were not linked to any one food or facility. One may have been associated with romaine lettuce, and the other may have been associated with a restaurant. Today the FDA announced a third E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least twelve people in five states that may be associated with recalled romaine lettuce. The patient case count by state is: California (2), Illinois (4), Michigan (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). Five people have been hospitalized. The last illness onset date was October 14, 2020. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development found E. coli O157:H7 bacteria on a sample of Tanimura … [Read more...]
Wood Ear Mushroom Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 55 Sick
The wood ear mushroom Salmonella outbreak has ended with 55 sick in 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Six people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The mushrooms, imported by Wismettac Asian Foods, were recalled in October 2020. The patient case count has increased by 12 since the last outbreak update almost a month ago. And two states, Oregon and Washington, were added to the outbreak state count. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (33), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (5), Louisiana (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), Washington (5) and Wisconsin (2). The patient age range is from 2 to 74 years. Illness onset dates range from January 21, 2020 to September 19, 2020. … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Ends, According to CDC
The Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with at least 701 people sick in 14 states. Thirty eight people were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Illinois (211), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (47). Illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020. The patient age range is from 11 year to 92 years. Exposures were reported in these 13 states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Ends With 701 Sick
The Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak has ended with 701 sick, according to an update by the FDA. Thirty eight people have been hospitalized; there were no deaths reported. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Illinois (211), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (47). Illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020. The outbreak was linked to Fresh Express salad products that were made with iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Many products were recalled, including Fresh Express branded products as well as products made by Fresh Express for retail store brands including ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Salmonella Stanley Wood Ear Mushrooms Outbreak
The FDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating a Salmonella Stanley wood ear mushrooms outbreak that has sickened at least 41 people in 10 states. Wood ear mushrooms are a dried mushroom product that is also called Dried Black Fungus, Dried Fungus, Kikurage, or Mu'er/Mu Er/Mu-Err. Wismettac Asian Foods recalled all wood ear mushrooms within shelf life on September 23, 2020. The mushrooms were distributed in six packs of five-pound bags to restaurants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, … [Read more...]
What Happened to the Fresh Express Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak?
It has been almost a month since the FDA or CDC has updated the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. The last update in the U.S., published on August 14, 2020, listed 690 people sick in 13 states, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois hardest hit. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized. In Canada, where the last update was posted on July 8, 2020, 37 people in three provinces were sick. Fresh Express recalled products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots with the product code Z178 or lower in June 2020, with more updates issued later. The salads were sold under several brand names, including ALDI, Hy Vee, Jewel Osco, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and ShopRite. The best by dates on the recalled products ran through July 14, 2020. Based on traceback, the carrots are … [Read more...]
