An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome, Alaska may be connected to the nationwide outbreak linked to chopped romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona. The Department of Health & Social Services, Department of Environmental Conservation, and Department of Corrections issued a joint press release about this outbreak. Eight confirmed cases have been identified. The romaine lettuce consumed by the Nome patients was grown in Yuma, Arizona, according to investigators. State officials are telling Alaskans to avoid any romaine lettuce products that could be contaminated. Restaurants, retailers, and consumers should ask their suppliers about the source of the lettuce. This statement, for the first time, says that consumers should avoid whole head and … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak at Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome, Alaska May Be Linked to Nationwide Romaine Lettuce Outbreak
CDC Issues Report on Salmonella Braenderup Infections Linked to Rose Acre Farms Eggs
At least twenty-three people are sick in the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that is linked to eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms, according to the CDC. Rose Acre Farms voluntarily recalled 206,749,248 eggs on April 13, 2018. The outbreak was originally announced in an FDA recall notice. These eggs were sold in grocery stores and to restaurants in these states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The eggs were sold under these brand names: Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Crystal Farms, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, and Sunshine Farms. You can identify the eggs by looking for the plant number P-1065 and the Julian date range of 011 through 102 printed on the carton. The case count by state is: … [Read more...]
Nine People in Pennsylvania Sick in E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Lettuce Outbreak; One Has HUS
Nine people in Pennsylvania are sick in the multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak the CDC has linked to chopped romaine lettuce. Six of those people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a kind of kidney failure, according to Nate Wardle, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This is not the same outbreak as the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that took place in November and December 2017. In that outbreak, which was linked to leafy greens, 25 people in 15 states were sick, two developed HUS, and one death was reported from California. In this new outbreak, officials believe that chopped romaine lettuce from the growing region in Yuma, Arizona is linked to the illness. The first illness was reported on March 22, … [Read more...]
Idaho Hard Hit in E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
Idaho has been hard hit in the multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that the CDC has linked to chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona area. Eight people in that state are ill with this serious infection. Three of those patients have been hospitalized; two have developed a type of kidney failure that sometimes occurs with this infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All of the patients told investigators that they ate romaine lettuce in the 10 days before they got sick. All of the patients are adults between the ages of 20 and 55. No deaths have been reported in this outbreak. While government officials believe that the lettuce came from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, no specific grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified. And no … [Read more...]
Lawyers Investigating Multistate E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just announced that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak they have been investigating is now linked to chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. As of April 12, 2018, 35 people in 11 states are sick with the outbreak strain. Twenty-two of those patients have been hospitalized; three patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No common growers, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified so far, but government officials recommended that anyone, anywhere in the country, who has purchased chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing that green, should throw it away. If you aren't sure where the lettuce came from, get rid of it. Discard it even if some of it has … [Read more...]
Lawyer Warns of E. coli Danger at Petting Zoos
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Ryan Osterholm are warning about the dangers of E. coli infections from petting zoos. As the weather warms and summer starts, petting zoos are popular attractions for families with young children. Unfortunately, those venues can be and have been the source of serious and even deadly E. coli outbreaks. The issue is that ruminant animals often held at petting zoos, such as goats, sheep, and cows, can carry Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria in their guts. The animals don't get sick from this pathogenic bacteria because they lack the gene that permits the bacteria to grow and produce toxins that destroy red blood cells. The bacteria are shed in the animal's feces. From there, they can get onto the animal's coat, its bedding, and the … [Read more...]
FDA Investigating Mysterious Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections
The FDA is investigating a mysterious E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 17 people in 7 states. This outbreak was first noticed in New Jersey in March 2018. Unfortunately, there is no facility or food that has been pinpointed in this outbreak, although investigators are conducting traceback investigations and conducting interviews to try to find the source of the bacteria. The illnesses occurred from March 22, 2018 to March 31, 2018. The case count by state is: Connecticut (2), Idaho (4), Missouri, New Jersey (6), Ohio, Pennsylvania (2), and Washington. According to the CDC, six people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Anyone who is experiencing the symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 … [Read more...]
CDC Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections
A multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections is being investigated by the CDC, several states, the FDA, and the USDA. This is a continuation of the outbreak that started in New Jersey and was reported on by the New Jersey Department of Health. Earlier this week, the NJDOH reported that seven people were sick with E. coli infections in an outbreak that may be associated with a restaurant chain. Now, at least 17 people in 7 states are sick. Six people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Investigators are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this particular outbreak. DNA fingerprinting has been performed on isolates taken from ill persons using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Lab testing is … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Kratom Products Grows to 132 Sick
The Salmonella outbreak linked to kratom products has grown to include 132 people sick, according to a new notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Forty-five more ill persons from 19 states have been added to the outbreak total since the last update on March 15, 2018. Three more states have been added to the case count: Connecticut, Iowa, and Idaho. The CDC and FDA recommend that no one consume any brand of kratom in any form because it could be contaminated with Salmonella. This compound is also known as Kakuam, Thang, Them, Biak, and Ketom. It is a plant that is taken as a opioid substitute and for its stimulant effects. While no one specific kratom product has been tied to the outbreak, several companies have recalled their products made with … [Read more...]
FDA Investigates Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Linked to Dried Coconut
The FDA is joining in on the investigation into the multistate Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to dried coconut that has sickened 13 people in 8 states. Three people are hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported to date. FDA testing confirmed that Salmonella found in two retail product samples of dried coconut that were collected from Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Market and International Harvest match the outbreak strain. Both facilities have recalled products. Vitamin Cottage recalled Natural Grocers coconut, and International Harvest has recalled Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw and International Harvest Brand Organic Go Smile! Dried Coconut Raw. You can find more information about these recalled items at the FDA web site. In their investigation, ill persons told FDA … [Read more...]
