The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that a Pats Pizza food worker in Dover-Foxcroft has been diagnosed with hepatitis A and worked while infectious. That worker was at that facility on November 11, 2020. Epidemiological assessment of the employee's illness has found that the restaurant's patrons may be at risk for a hepatitis A infection. The Maine CDC is recommending that anyone who may have eaten food prepared at or who worked at Pats Pizza in Dover-Foxcroft on November 11, 2020 receive a hepatitis A vaccine by November 25, 2020. This recommendation includes anyone who may have had dine-in, take-out, delivery, or curbside pickup of food from this restaurant on that day. The virus is extremely contagious and can be passed through contaminated food and drink, … [Read more...]
Food Worker With Hepatitis A at Texas Roadhouse in Bangor, Maine
A food worker with hepatitis A at Texas Roadhouse in Bangor, Maine worked while sick and infectious, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. That person worked on October 16-18, 20, 22-25, 27, and 29, 2020. Anyone who visited that restaurant on those dates may have been exposed to the contagious virus. The government recommends that anyone who ate there between October 21 and October 29, 2020 get a hepatitis A vaccination as soon as possible. That vaccine is only effective for fourteen days after exposure. The recommendation is for anyone who may have had dine-in, take-out, delivery, or curbside pickup of food from the restaurant. This hepatitis A at Texas Roadhouse means that anyone who ate there from October 16-20 is now outside the two week window. Those people need … [Read more...]
Roux Farm Raw Milk Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak in Maine Sickens Four
A raw milk cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Maine is linked to raw milk produced at Roux Farm in Shapleigh. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement about this outbreak, which has sickened four people over the last two months. Anyone who consumed raw milk from Roux Farm that was produced before October 18, 2020 may be at elevated risk of contracting cryptosporidiosis. The raw milk was sold through several stores in Maine. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, vomiting, nausea, fever, and weight loss. The parasite can infect humans and animals. The symptoms of the infection typically start two to ten days after infection. Consuming raw dairy products is a risk factor for contracting this infection, … [Read more...]
Worker at Birches Resort in Rockwood, Maine Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
According to news reports, the Maine Centers for Disease Control says that a worker at The Birches Resort in Rockwood, Maine has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. That person handled food while infectious between September 2 and September 22, 2020. That means that anyone who ate at that restaurant or worked there from September 18 through September 22, 2020 should be vaccinated against the virus. Unfortunately, it's too late for a vaccine for anyone who visited that location before September 18, 2020 because there is two-week window after exposure where the vaccine is effective. All those people can do is monitor their health for symptoms of the illness. Anyone who may have had dine-in, take-out, delivery, or curbside pickup of food from the Birches Resort in Rockwood should talk … [Read more...]
Saco House of Pizza Food Worker Diagnosed with Hepatitis A in Maine
A Saco House of Pizza food worker has been diagnosed with hepatitis A in Saco, Maine, according to the Maine Centers for Disease Control. The employee was not in charge of preparing food, but did handle food while infectious from August 5, 2020 through August 21, 2020 and had access to food in the kitchen. Anyone who visited that venue on August 20 and August 21, 2020 is still eligible for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination if they are vaccinated today or tomorrow. The vaccine is only effective if given within 14 days of exposure. This recommendation includes anyone who may have had dine-in, take-out, delivery, or curbside pickup of food from the restaurant. Everyone else who was at the Saco House of Pizza from August 5, 2020 through August 19, 2020 needs to monitor … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Exposure at Sea Salt Lobster Restaurant in Saco, Maine
A possible hepatitis A exposure at the Sea Salt Lobster Restaurant Saco, Maine may have exposed customers to the virus, according to a press release from the Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That employee worked there and handled food while infectious from May 12, 2020 to May 23, 2020. Unfortunately, it's too late for anyone who may have been exposed to receive the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination, since the vaccine is only effective if given with 14 days of exposure. The advisory is extended to anyone who had take-out, delivery, or curbside pickup of food from the restaurant. The issue is that anyone who is infected will not show symptoms until at least two weeks have passed after infection. Anyone who may have been exposed at the Sea Salt Lobster Restaurant … [Read more...]
Almark Eggs Listeria Outbreak Ends With 8 Sick, 5 Hospitalized, 1 Death
The Almark Eggs Listeria outbreak has ended with 8 sick in 5 states, 5 hospitalized, and 1 death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest announcement. A recall was issued for Almark Foods hard boiled eggs that had "Best If Used By" dates through March 2, 2020. These eggs are past their shelf life and shouldn't be available for sale, but some consumers may still have them in their homes and restaurants could have them in storage coolers. They should be discarded. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Maine (2), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), and Texas (2). Listeria specimens from patients were collected from April 10, 2017 to December 7, 2019. These dates are so far apart because the investigators used PulseNet to look for people sickened with … [Read more...]
Almark Foods Hard Boiled Eggs Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 7
An Almark Foods hard boiled eggs Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened seven people in five states, according to the CDC. Four of the seven people sickened have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported in Texas. The bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia are suspected intros outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Maine (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), and Texas (2). Listeria specimens were collected from ill people from April 10, 2017 to November 12, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 72, with a median age of 75. One illness was reported in a newborn who was infected with Listeria while the mother was pregnant, but the newborn survived. Of the five people who were interviewed by … [Read more...]
Toddlers in Maine Sickened by Same Strain of E. coli
The E. coli bacteria that sickened two Maine children after visiting the Oxford County fair have the same genetic fingerprint, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. One of those little boys died last week. The strain is E. coli O111, one of the Shiga toxin-producing bacteria found in ruminant animals. The second child is recuperating from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and is undergoing dialysis and blood transfusions. Both children were at the petting barn at the fair in September 2015. Noted food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, "no child should get so sick and die just because they attended a fair with their families." State Epidemiologist Dr. Siri Bennett said at a press conference, "The strain and the molecular typing from each patient is identical, making it … [Read more...]
One Child Dies, Another Sick in Maine E. coli Oxford County Fair Outbreak
A child has died and another is seriously ill in an E. coli outbreak that may be associated with the Oxford county fair in Maine. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating this outbreak along with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and state veterinarians. Both children attended the fair last month. Public health officials are investigating the fair and taking samples from animal exhibits and other venus. Little Colton Guay died after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome a week after attending the fair according to the Boston Globe. HUS is a serious complication of an E. coli infection that attacks the kidneys and can cause strokes, seizures, and kidney failure. The 21-month-old was in his stroller when the family visited … [Read more...]
