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...]
Lavender Aromatherapy Spray Tests Positive For Burkholderia pseudomallei
Better Homes & Gardens Aromatherapy Spray, Sold at Walmart, is Suspected in Four Illnesses, Resulting in Two Deaths Lavender aromatherapy spray has tested positive for deadly Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Testing found the pathogen in Better Homes & Gardens Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones. The spray was found on October 6, 2021 in the home of a Georgia resident who got sick with melioidosis in late July, 2021. That person died, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice. This is the same type of bacteria that sickened four people in the U.S. earlier this year. The patients lived in Georgia, Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota. Two of the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Oranienburg Outbreak Sickens 127, Hospitalizes 18
A Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak with an unknown food source that has sickened 127 people in 25 states has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a specific food has not been identified, this outbreak is growing rapidly, according to the government. The outbreak was first announced on FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table on September 15, 2021. The case count by state is: Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (3), Illinois (5), Iowa (1), Kansas (5), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), Minnesota (13), Missouri (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (3), New York (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (45), Utah (1), Virginia (9), and … [Read more...]
U.S. Court Strikes Down Kansas Ag-Gag Law As Unconstitutional
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling striking down a Kansas Ag-Gag law for violating the First Amendment, according to the Center for Food Safety. The lawsuit was first filed in 2018 by a coalition of food safety advocates, along with animal and environmental groups. Ag gag laws are intended to stop undercover filming in large factory farms by advocates who are trying to expose animal mistreatment as well as food safety violations. Studies have shown that stressing animals can increase the risk of pathogenic bacterial growth, and may lead to more human illnesses. The court held that Kansas may not legislate speech to silence views "critical of animal agriculture." The three provisions of the law targeted speech, not just conduct, … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Second Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; Romaine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the second mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with leafy greens or romaine lettuce. This outbreak has now sickened at least 39 people in 18 states. There are three unsolved multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks ongoing at this time; all of the investigation notices mention leafy greens, and one mentions an unnamed restaurant. The outbreak investigation notice states that "This outbreak is different from the two other E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks CDC is currently investigating." This is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 which caused a massive outbreak last year that was linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley growing region in California. At least 167 people were sickened in that outbreak … [Read more...]
Second Secret E. coli Outbreak Sickens 23 in 12 States, Hospitalizes 10
A second secret E. coli outbreak has sickened 23 people and hospitalized 10, according to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last night. The first outbreak, which was caused by a different strain of E. coli O157:H7, was also announced last night. This outbreak is caused by the same strain of bacteria that contaminated romaine lettuce and sickened 167 people in 27 states in 2019. While this information is significant, it doesn't mean that this outbreak was caused by leafy greens. A specific food has not been identified yet, and the government is not making any recommendations for consumers to avoid any particular food. But in another twist, the outbreak investigation statement says, "State and local public health officials are … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas Updated; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The Salmonella outbreak at the Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas has been updated; 14 people are now ill. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Doniphan County Health Department are investigating this outbreak. The dinner took place at the Highland United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Highland, Kansas on August 7, 2018. Officials put out a survey on August 10, 2018 to collect exposure information from anyone who attended the dinner. As of August 31, 2018, 115 people had completed the survey. Sixty-nine people said they were ill, and 14 tested positive for Salmonella Newport. Testing of the food served at that dinner was completed. All of the foods tested negative except for a sample of tomatoes that were positive for the same strain of Salmonella … [Read more...]
