Three new outbreaks have been posted on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and two Salmonella outbreaks have been added. And two outbreak investigations have ended. This table doesn't tell us very much about these outbreaks. And unless there is some action that consumers can take, such as a recall, the FDA doesn't identify any probable cause. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 29 people in Michigan and Ohio. Nine people are hospitalized. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation. A new Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has sickened at least 19 people. No traceback has been initiated in that outbreak. And a new Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has sickened at least 44 people. Traceback has been initiated in that … [Read more...]
Michigan and Ohio E. coli Outbreak Sickens 29 According to CDC
A Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 29 people and has hospitalized nine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A food has not yet been identified. The government is calling this a "fast-moving outbreak." Officials in Wood county in Ohio and Ottawa county in Michigan have been reporting an alarming increase in E. coli illnesses in the past week. In fact, on August 17, 2022, Michigan officials said that there are 98 people sick with E. coli infections in Ottawa, Kent, and Oakland counties. Public health officials are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing is being used on patient isolates to match patients to the outbreak strain. And this genetic sequencing is showing … [Read more...]
Almost 100 Sick with E. coli in Three Michigan Counties
Almost 100 people are sick with E. coli infections in three Michigan counties, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and three local heath departments. The counties affected are Kent, Ottawa, and Oakland. Ottawa county has been releasing statements about E. coli illness clusters in that area. According to the last update, 18 people are sick in that county alone, an increase from the last reported total of 12 sick. This case count allegedly includes an infant who is hospitalized. At least two people in Ottawa county have hemolytic ureic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of an E. coli infection. The health department has received reports of 98 cases of E. … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Illness Cluster Grows to 16 Sick
The Wood county Ohio E. coli illness cluster has grown to include 16 patients, with six hospitalized, according to 24 News. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. There is no word on whether or not any hospitalized patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure and a complication of an E. coli infection. Lab samples have been sent to the Ohio Department of Health. Genetic testing will be conducted on those isolates to see if the cases are connected and something the patients have in common made them ill. The results are expected this week. Until lab tests confirm that at least two or more unrelated people are sickened with the same strain of E. coli, an outbreak will not be named. Benjamin Robison, health commissioner for the Wood … [Read more...]
Ottawa County MI E. coli Outbreak Grows to 12 Sick, 2 HUS Cases
![[caption id="attachment_96425" align="alignright" width="249"] Food Safety Lawyer and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher Eric Hageman[/caption] Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized."](https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/Kidney-150x150.jpg)
According to Wood TV 8, the Ottawa County MI E. coli outbreak has grown to include 12 sick people with five hospitalized. Derek Glashower of the Ottawa County Health Department told that outlet that two children have "serious kidney complications," which probably means hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized." This Ottawa county MI E. coli outbreak is unusual because that area usually sees just two to three cases of E. coli infections every August. This number of illnesses is a significant … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Outbreak Sickens at Least 15
A Wood county Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 15 people and hospitalized five, according to news reports. That is three years' worth of those illnesses for that county that have been reported in one week. Genetic testing is underway to see if the cases are related, with results expected early next week. There is another ongoing E. coli outbreak in Ottawa county, Michigan. At least nine preple are sick in that outbreak, with four hospitalized. There is currently no indication that the illnesses in those two locations are related, but that could change depending on what investigators find. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. The five hospitalized patients range in age from 21 to 60. The Wood County Health Department is working with the Ohio Department of Health … [Read more...]
Increase in E. coli Cases in Ottawa County, Michigan Sickens 9
An increase in E. coli cases in Ottawa County, Michigan has sickened at least nine people and hospitalized four, according to the Ottawa Department of Public Health. The pathogen is shiga toxin E. coli (STEC), which is the type that causes serious illness in people, and can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), especially in young children. This is a high number of cases for any area. STEC bacteria is usually tied to food poisoning outbreaks. The pathogen lives in the guts of ruminant animals and is excreted in their feces. There is no word on what officials are investigating, whether it's a restaurant or some particular type of food. In the past, E. coli outbreaks have been linked to flour, ground beef, raw sprouts, unpasteurized milk, spinach, romaine lettuce, bagged salad … [Read more...]
Deadly Dole Salad Listeria Outbreak Ends With 18 Sick in 13 States
The deadly Dole Salad Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with 18 sick in 13 states, 16 patients hospitalized, and three deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of one more patient in Ohio and one more death, also in Ohio, since the last update in early February 2022. The patient case count by state is: Idaho (1), Iowa (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from August 16, 2014 to January 15, 2021. The patient age range is from 50 to 94 years. Of 16 people who gave information to public health officials, all were hospitalized. Three deaths have been reported: one each from … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, with 13 people sick. Traceback has been initiated, but no inspection has been started, and there has been no sample collection or analyzing. We do not know the patient case count by state, patient age ranges, or illness onset dates. The FDA will not release much more information about this outbreak unless there are some things that the public can do to protect itself. There are still four active outbreak investigations on the table. The E. coli O121:H19 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, which sickened at least four people, has been closed with no resolution. No brand or farm or even a growing area was named. The four active outbreaks are: An Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26 … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Deadly Dole Packaged Salads Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
The FDA has updated the deadly Dole packaged salads Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, with one more illness reported in Minnesota. Now 17 people in 13 states were sickened. The case count is current as of February 1, 2022. The patient case count by state is: Idaho (1), Iowa (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from August 16, 2014 to December 30, 2021. The patient age range is from 50 to 94 years. Of 15 people who were interviewed by public health officials, 13 have been hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported: one each from Wisconsin and Michigan. Where were recalled Dole packaged salads sold? Two recalls were issued for salads … [Read more...]
