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...]
Multistate Vibrio Outbreak Linked to Fresh Crab from Venezuela Sickens 12; Lawsuits Possible
A multistate vibrio outbreak linked to fresh crab imported from Venezuela has sickened at least 123 people in Maryland, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Illness onset dates range from April 1, 2018 to July 3, 2018. Ill persons range in age from 26 to 69 years. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that precooked fresh crab meat imported from Venezuela is the likely source of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing shows that isolates taken from patients are closely related genetically. The means that people who are sick in this outbreak are likely to share a common source of infection. More people associated with this outbreak include some who ate crab and who had a positive test for Vibrio, which may or … [Read more...]
Vibrio Outbreak Linked to Venezuela Crab Sold in Maryland
A Vibrio outbreak in Maryland is linked to fresh Venezuela crab meat that was sold in that state. The crab in question was sold under different brand names. The brand names for this Venezuela crab were not mentioned in the press release. The Maryland Department of Health is wanting consumers to avoid eating non-pasteurized crab meat because of this potential risk. The fresh crab meat is sold in plastic tubs, with a label indicating that it was imported from that South American country. Crab harvested in the Maryland area is not associated with this outbreak, even though the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have contained this particular bacteria. The Venezuela crab has been sold to individual households and to restaurant settings. It has been made into crab cakes, … [Read more...]
Outbreak at Fager’s Island Shell Shocked Oyster Festival in Maryland
According to news reports, officials at the Maryland Department of Public Health are investigating a "stomach flu" outbreak among people who attended the "Shell Shocked" beer and oyster festival on November 4, 2017. That event was held at Fager's Island Restaurant in Ocean City, Maryland. The state health department is working with the Worcester County Health Department on this outbreak. There is no information posted about these illnesses on either government website. According to the Baltimore Sun, the restaurant was allowed to hold a similar event on November 11, 2017. At least 145 people were sickened in this outbreak. What is commonly known as the "stomach flu" is almost always food poisoning. No one has been sick enough to need hospitalization. No deaths are linked to this … [Read more...]
