Three people are sick with E. coli infections in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to the Winnebago County Health Department. Those patients have been experiencing diarrhea beginning May 21, 2019. The exact cause of the illness has not been determined. An outbreak is defined as two people who are not related getting sick with the same illness. E. coli outbreaks in the past have been linked to contaminated water and contaminated food, especially ground beef and leafy greens. Authorities interview these patients to see if they can find a common source for the pathogen. If you or anyone you know has been sick with the symptoms of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection on or after May 21, 2019, contact a healthcare provider, especially if you live in Winnebago County, … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau Melon Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau melon outbreak. The latest numbers are 137 people sick in 10 states. Thirty-eight people, or 28%, have been hospitalized because they are so ill, which is a high number for a typical Salmonella outbreak. Usually only 20% of patients are hospitalized when they are sickened with this pathogen. Caito Foods recalled many different types of cut melon products, including Melon Mix, Honeydew Chunks, Cantaloupe Spears, Fruit Burst, Fruit Snack Tray, Watermelon Spear, and Seasonal Fruit Salad among others, on April 12, 2019. Some of these products were sold at Kroger, Spartan Nash, Target, Walmart, and Amazon/Whole Foods locations. It is not likely that any of these products are still in consumer's homes, because the shelf life of … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Frozen Raw Ground Tuna Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has released information about the frozen raw ground tuna Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 13 people in 7 states. The tuna was sourced from Jensen Tuna, and imported from JK Fish of Vietnam. Jensen Tuna voluntarily recalled this tuna on April 15, 2019. The FDA statement says that it's unlikely the ground tuna was sold directly to consumers in grocery stores. They think that it was used to make food dishes, such as sushi and spicy tuna, by restaurants and retailers. The tuna was sold in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, and Washington state. The patients in this outbreak live in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, and Washington state. The tuna could have been distributed to other … [Read more...]
Salmonella Carrau Outbreak Linked to Precut Melons
A Salmonella Carrau outbreak that is linked to precut melons traced to Caito Foods has been announced by the FDA. At least 93 people in 9 states are sick with the outbreak strain. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The states where ill people live are Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The FDA report did not state how many people are sick in each state. The last illness onset date was March 31, 2019. There was a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak in 2018, also linked to Caito Foods precut melons, that sickened at least 77 people in 9 states. Thirty-six people were hospitalized in that outbreak. The FDA is recommending that people not eat these precut melon products, which include cantaloupe, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Supermercado Rivera Kitchen in Chicago
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is investigating a Salmonella outbreak that is associated with the Supermercado Rivera kitchen counter. That facility is located at 4334 West 51st Street in Chicago, Illinois. At least six people have been sickened after they allegedly consumed carnitas or other foods that were purchased on February 23 or 24, 2019. The CDPH is warning consumers to discard any carnitas or other food that was purchased from the kitchen counter at this establishment on those dates. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these items. An environmental assessment was performed by public health officials, who also provided guidance on safe food handling practices. Unfortunately, the items that may have made people sick were no longer … [Read more...]
Previously Unreported Listeria Outbreak Associated with Caramel Apples
In the CDC's Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for January 25, 2019, a previously unreported Listeria monocytogenes outbreak associated with prepackaged caramel apples was announced. In late 2014 and early 2015, a large and deadly outbreak of listeriosis linked to prepackaged caramel apples sickened ate least 35 people. Thirty four patients were hospitalized. And listeriosis contributed to at least three of the seven deaths reported. Eleven of those cases were associated with pregnancy, causing three premature births and one fetal loss. In the 2017 outbreak, PulseNet found a cluster of three Listeria monocytogenes clinical isolates with indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern combinations. That means that those three people were likely sickened … [Read more...]
Raw Turkey Salmonella Reading Outbreak Investigation Updated
The raw turkey Salmonella Reading outbreak has been updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The case count remains the same as it was in the last update - 216 sick in 38 states, with 84 hospitalizations and one death in California. But another product has been tied to illnesses. The case count by state is: Alabama (4), Alaska (2), Arizona (3), Arkansas (1), California (16), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (2), Florida (8), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (2), Iowa (4), Illinois (21), Indiana (5), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (5), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (8), Minnesota (18), Missouri (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (9), New York (15), North Carolina (8), North Dakota (2), Ohio (8), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak Was Number One in 2018
The McDonald's cyclospora outbreak was the number one outbreak of 2018, with 511 people in 16 states sickened. Twenty four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence found that salads purchased from McDonald's were "one likely source of this outbreak." The FDA did not name other sources. On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed analysis of an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's by the Fresh Express processor in Streamwood, Illinois. They confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in the sample. However, the FDA did not identify a single source of point of contamination for this outbreak. The patient case count by state was: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (274), … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad Cyclospora Outbreak ends; Lawsuits Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak appears to be over, according to the CDC. As of September 11, 2018, 551 people are sick in 15 states and New York City. They consumed "a variety of salads" from McDonald's restaurants in the Midwest. Twenty-four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed that salads purchased from McDonald's restaurants were the likely source of this outbreak. The salad supplier, Fresh Express, provided an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's; FDA analysis confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in that sample. No single source or point of contamination for this outbreak was found. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier … [Read more...]
Illinois Hit Hard by McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak; Lawsuits Filed
For some reason, Illinois is the state that is hardest hit by the McDonald's Fresh Express Cyclospora outbreak. At least 273 people out of the 507 sickened in this huge outbreak live in Illinois. In total, 24 people have been hospitalized because their symptoms were so severe. The rest of the people affected by this outbreak live in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Officials have not explained why, even though McDonald's sells salads in their restaurants throughout the country, the outbreak has centered on the midwest. The FDA investigation has zeroed in on a Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots that was distributed to McDonald's. Investigators found cyclospora parasites in that sample. … [Read more...]
