The pig ear Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 143 people in 35 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thirty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. People can get sick after handling the treats or caring for or touching the dogs who ate them. Dogs can get sick too. Sixteen ill persons have been added to this investigation after the last update on July 31, 2019. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Colorado (3), Connecticut (1), Florida (3), Georgia (3), Hawaii (1), Illinois (10), Indiana (5), Iowa (23), Kansas (3), Kentucky (6), Louisiana (1), Maine (1), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (4), Michigan (14), Minnesota (1), Missouri (7), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (1), … [Read more...]
Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Announced; No Food Identified
A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-four people in 13 states are sick. Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, and two people have died. The patient case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), New York (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (2), and Texas (1). Listeria specimens were collected from patients from July 20, 2017 to August 1, 2019. The patient age range is from 35 to 92 years. This is a strange outbreak announcement, because the notice states that "A specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections in the United States." This is very unusual. In … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Sun View Produce in Chicago
A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least four people is associated with Sun View Produce grocery store in Chicago, Illinois. The outbreak started in early July 2019. The patients got sick after eating pork tamales or carnitas that were served from the deli section at that store. Sun View Produce is located at 6110 West 63rd Street in Chicago. If you ate food purchased from the deli section at that store since July 1, 2019, you may have been exposed to Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of this illness include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and symptoms of dehydration. If you have been ill with these symptoms, see your doctor. If you have pork tamales, carnitas, or other hot foods that were purchased from this deli since July 1, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pig Ear Dog Treats Sickens 45
A Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- linked to pig ear dog treats has sickened at least 45 people in 13 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twelve people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (12), Kansas (3), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (7), Missouri (3), New York (6), North Dakota (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from November 18, 2018 to June 13, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 81 years. Of the 39 people who provided information, 12, or 31%, have been hospitalized. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that contact with pig ear dog treats is the likely source of this … [Read more...]
Three People Sick With E. coli in Winnebago County, Illinois
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...]
