The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in that state that may be linked to lettuce. There may be as many as 20 cases; three of the cases are children. The law firm of Pritzker Hageman has been retained by multiple patients in this outbreak and is representing two of those children. One is a 4-year-old who is hospitalized and seriously ill, and the other child is 14 and also hospitalized. Dr. Larry Lutwick posted a notice on ProMed-Mail on November 17, 2019 about three women sickened with E. coli O157 infections who live in northwestern Wisconsin; those women told investigators that they ate salad before becoming sick. Since then, there are news reports that there may be people in other states, in particular Illinois, who may also … [Read more...]
MD E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Ready Pac Chicken Caesar Salad
A MD E. coli O157:H7 outbreak may be linked to Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad that was purchased from several Sam's Club locations in that state, according to the Maryland Health Department. Seven people are sick. One person has been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. The health department is recommending the consumers not eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad. The lot number on the product is 255406963, and the best by date is October 31, 2019. Officials tested unopened salad purchased by one of the patients, and found E. coli O157 in the romaine lettuce used in the salad. In addition to Sam's Club, these salad bowls are distributed to many other retailers. The notice did not name those retailers. The investigation is ongoing and more … [Read more...]
Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 33 in MD, VA, and DC
The Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella outbreak has sickened 33 people in two states and the District of Columbia. This outbreak was first announced on September 26, 2019 by the Maryland Department of Health. There are no notices of the outbreak on the Virginia Department of Heath or the Washington, D.C. Department of Health Websites. On September 26, the Maryland Department of Health stated that nine confirmed Salmonella cases were identified in this outbreak. Eight of those nine people said they ate Moby Dick House of Kabob hummus. The sale of that hummus was voluntarily suspended by the company. News reports were stating that the hummus had been excluded as a source of the Salmonella earlier in October 2019. The outbreak continued to grow. In mid-October, Maureen C. Regan … [Read more...]
Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Nine in Virginia
Nine people in Virginia are sick in the Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella outbreak, according to Julie Henderson, Director, Division of Food and General Environmental Services of the Virginia Department of Health. This number is in addition to the 23 sick in Maryland. Those nine Virginia patients are all adults. Eight of the patients were not hospitalized, and hospitalization "was not confirmed" for the ninth. The last illness onset date was September 19, 2019. This outbreak was first discovered in Maryland in September, when nine people were diagnosed with Salmonella infections. At first, public health officials blamed hummus served at and sold from the restaurant for the illnesses. Some doubt was cast on that food being responsible in the press, but the Maryland Department of … [Read more...]
Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella Outbreak Increases to 23 Sick
The Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella outbreak has now sickened 23 people, Maureen Regan, Deputy Director, Integrated Media Office of Communications at the Maryland Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The latest update on the Salmonella outbreak investigation was posted on September 26, 2019. Those 23 cases are confirmed. All are associated with eating foods purchased at a Moby Dick House of Kabob restaurant. These cases are associated with several different locations of the restaurant chain. The Maryland Department of Public Health has not excluded the hummus served at that restaurant as the source of the outbreak, despite claims of this in the media. Public health officials thoroughly inspected the restaurant and reviewed food practices. Corrective actions … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak At Moby Dick House of Kabob in Maryland
A Salmonella outbreak at Moby Dick House of Kabob restaurant, which has locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. has sickened at least nine people in Maryland. Those cases have been confirmed since September 10, 2019. The press release from the Maryland Department of Health states that "The exact cause of the infections has not been determined and the investigation is ongoing, but eight of nine cases reported consuming Moby Dick House of Kabob hummus." There is no information on the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The press release also did not state the serotype of the Salmonella that made people sick. Moby Dick House of Kabob has voluntarily suspended sales of hummus. Public health officials are recommending that consumers discard any hummus … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at University of Maryland Sickens Three
A Salmonella outbreak at the University of Maryland has sickened at least three people, according to Dr. David McBride, Director of the University of Maryland Health Center. Two of the cases have been confirmed at outside medical facilities, and one was confirmed at the University. The students have recovered "without incident" according to a press release. Two of the three patients ate at "a variety of campus dining facilities." The other did not eat on campus. The Prince George County Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health are investigating these illnesses. The press release also states "while there is no indication at this time that the source of this infection came from campus, we will keep the campus community informed once we learn from the state and county … [Read more...]
CDC Posts Info About Potential Duncan Hines Cake Mix Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted information about the potential Duncan Hines cake mix Salmonella Agbeni outbreak that has sickened at least five people in three states. ConAgra recalled four varieties of that cake mix after officials in Oregon identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella bacteria in a box of Duncan Hines Classic White Fake Mix. Investigators are trying to determine if the illnesses are linked to the Duncan Hines cake mix. After officials found the pathogen in the cake mix, CDC reviewed the PulseNet database and found five people sickened with the same strain. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food labs coordinated by the CDC. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the bacteria are closely related … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Potential Duncan Hines Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA has provided more information on the potential Duncan Hines Salmonella outbreak that many be linked to that company's cake mixes. Five people in three states are ill with Salmonella Agnebi infections. There are two cases on Maryland, two in Ohio, and one in Wisconsin. No one has been hospitalized. We don't know the patient age range or when the illnesses began. The FDA is investigating the manufacturing facility that made the mixes. They are collecting environmental samples there. A sample of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix continued the same strain of Salmonella Agbeni that sickened the five people. The match was made using whole genome sequencing (WGS), which is a very accurate way to type DNA. Conagra is working with the FDA to conduct a recall of four different … [Read more...]
Kosher Chicken Linked to Deadly Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
Kosher chicken is linked to a deadly Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 17 people in four states and has hospitalized eight patients. One person in New York has died, according to the CDC. In interviews several ill persons reported that they ate Empire Kosher brand chicken. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that some kosher chicken products are contaminated with Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. The outbreak strain of bacteria was identified in samples of raw kosher chicken that were collected from two facilities, including one facility that processes Empire Kosher brand chicken. The four states where patients live include Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The illness onset dates range from September 25, 2017 to June 4, 2018. The CDC began investigating … [Read more...]
