An alleged Campylobacter outbreak at Trade Winds Bar & Grill in Garnett, Kansas has sickened an unnamed number of patrons, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department (SEKMCHD). This outbreak investigation is in the preliminary stages. Anyone who visited that restaurant between July 14, 2023 and August 9, 2023 and is experiencing the symptoms of a Campylobacter infection should take a survey the health department has posted to aid in the investigation. If you live in Anderson County and do not have access to a computer to complete this survey, call the SEKMCHD at (785) 448-6559. If you live outside of Anderson County and don't have a computer for the survey, call KDHE's Epidemiology Hotline at … [Read more...]
Salmonella Sun Sprouts Warning Letter Sent After Outbreak
A Salmonella Sun Sprouts warning letter was sent to that company by the FDA after an outbreak, which happened from December 2022 to January 2023, linked to those raw sprouts sickened at least 63 people in eight states. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), Iowa (6), Kansas (6), Missouri (9), Nebraska (26), New Hampshire (1), Oklahoma (1), and South Dakota (13). Ten people were hospitalized. The FDA inspected the sprouting operation of Rhodes Legacy Inc. doing business as Sun Sprouts, because of the outbreak. FDA's traceback investigation identified the brand's alfalfa sprouts as a likely source of illnesses in that outbreak. The inspection revealed "serious violations of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption … [Read more...]
Sun Sprouts Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The Sun Sprouts alfalfa sprouts Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with 63 sick in eight states. That is an increase of 48 more patients and five more states since the last update on December 30, 2022. Ten people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The sprouts were recalled on December 29, 2022. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Iowa (6), Kansas (6), Missouri (9), Nebraska (26), New Hampshire (1), Oklahoma (1), and South Dakota (13). New states added to this outbreak are Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The patient age range is from less than one to 83 years. Of 59 people who gave information about their health to government officials, 10 were hospitalized. The illness onset … [Read more...]
SunSprout Alfalfa Sprouts Recalled For Possible Salmonella
SunSprout alfalfa sprouts are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. The sprouts were distributed to customers in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa between late November and early December 2022. The recalling firm is SunSprout Enterprises of Fremont, Nebraska. The recall notice states that "To date, SunSprout has received no complaints or reports of illness due to this recalled product. This voluntary recall is a result of a preliminary investigation by the State of Nebraska in connection with CDC of an outbreak of illness likely associated with alfalfa sprouts. SunSprout, out of an abundance of caution, is initiating this voluntary recall while it further investigates how this alfalfa product was handled and stored after it left its Nebraska facility." That outbreak has … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel E. coli Outbreak Was Number Four of 2022
The Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak was the number four outbreak of 2022, sickening at least 24 people in six states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Frozen Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and Garlic & Herb Falafel were both recalled after the outbreak was announced. Those products were sold at Aldi stores. The case count by state was: Florida (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Michigan (13), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (5). The patient age range was from under the age of one to 77 years, and illness onset date ranged from July 13, 2022 to October 24, 2022. One patient did develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Public health officials interviewed 18 patients about what they ate before they got sick. … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Frozen Falafel E. coli Outbreak Sickens 20 in 6 States
An Earth Grown frozen Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak has sickened at least 20 people in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. A recall for two kinds of that falafel has been issued. These products were sold exclusively at Aldi stores. The patient case count by state is: Florida (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (11), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (4). Illness onset dates range from July 13, 2022 to September 13, 2022. The patient age range is from less than one to 71 years. Of 14 people who gave information to investigators, five have been hospitalized. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. E. coli O121 one of the Big Six non-O157 … [Read more...]
Kansas Shigella Outbreak at Splash Pad Sickened 21 in June 2021
A Kansas shigella outbreak at a splash pad in June 2021 sickened at least 21 people, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of August 5, 2022. The splash pad was located in a Kansas wildlife park. There were actually two outbreaks: One involving shigella, and the other was a norovirus outbreak. Getting splash pad water in the mouth was associated with the illnesses. The shigella outbreak was linked to visits on June 11, 2021, and the norovirus outbreak was linked to visits on June 18, 2021. The contributing factors were inadequate disinfection, equipment, and training. The park has animal exhibits and a splash pad. In June 2021, Kansas state and county public health officials identified three cases of … [Read more...]
Deadly Florida Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream
The new deadly Florida Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to ice cream, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result of the investigation, Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida is contacting retail locations to recommend they not sell their product. Anyone who has any Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream at home should discard it immediately, even if some has been consumed and no one has been ill. The case count by state remains at: Colorado (1), Florida (12), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92. Five people got sick during a pregnancy, and one illness resulted in a fetal loss. The person who died lived in … [Read more...]
BH&G Lavender Aromatherapy Room Spray Melioidosis Outbreak Updated
The BH&G Lavender Aromatherapy Room Spray melioidosis outbreak investigation has been updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak sickened four people with melioidosis, which is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. Those people live in Georgia, Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota. Two people, who lived in Georgia and Kansas, including a child, sadly died. The outbreak strain was found in a bottle of Better Homes & Gardens Lavender & Chamomile with Gemstones aromatherapy room spray discovered in the home of a person who lived in Georgia, who died in July 2021. The outbreak strain was also found in an unopened bottle of the same product recalled from a Walmart store in a different state. The contaminated product is linked to the … [Read more...]
Walmart BH&G Aromatherapy Spray Recalled For Burkholderia
Four People Sickened - Two Have Died Walmart Better Homes & Gardens aromatherapy spray is being recalled for possible Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria contamination, which causes melioidosis, a potentially fatal infection, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Four people, from Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, and Georgia, were sickened and two have died, including a child, after being infected with that pathogen. Better Homes & Gardens Aromatherapy Room Spray Suspected - Recalled The source of those infections has not been definitively confirmed by the CDC, but a bottle contaminated with Burkholderia pseudomallei, the same type of bacteria that causes melioidosis, was found in the home of one of the patients who died of a melioidosis infection. Approximately … [Read more...]
