A possible food poisoning outbreak at a Jimmy John's restaurant at 3822 Laclede Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri may have sickened "multiple" students who attend St. Louis University. The University News, the newspaper for that campus, published this information on February 20, 2020. The article states that multiple students got sick "shortly after eating at the sandwich shop, some even being hospitalized." It seems that these illnesses happened in mid to late January 2020. The students attended a campus retreat for an SLU organization and that retreat was catered by Jimmy John's. More than a dozen students were sickened after attending that retreat and eating the food provided by Jimmy John's. They suffered from weakness and vomiting. The paper claims that the restaurant was shut … [Read more...]
Mystery Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick
The mystery deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened 24 people in 13 states and caused two deaths has been declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with no resolution. The outbreak notice states, "A specific food item, grocery store, food processor, or restaurant chain was not identified as the source of infections in the United States." People who were sickened in this outbreak were sickened by a strain of Listeria bacteria that was closely related genetically to Listeria that made people sick in a Canadian outbreak. That Canadian outbreak was linked to recalled Rosemount frozen cooked chicken. The Listeria outbreak in Canada was deemed over on November 6, 2019. The case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (4), … [Read more...]
Worker at Roadhouse 100 in Gray Summit, Missouri Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
A food worker at Roadhouse 100 in Gray Summit, Missouri has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to news reports. Anyone who ate at that restaurant between June 23 and July 5, 2019 should contact their doctor and inquire about a possible vaccination against the virus, or visit the local health department for a free vaccine. The Franklin County Health Department is conducting an investigation. Today is the last day that patrons who visited that venue can receive either an immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccination, since the vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. People who were at that facility but didn't eat food or drink beverages are asked not to come to the vaccination clinics that the county has scheduled. The Franklin County Health … [Read more...]
E. coli Illnesses Associated with Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, Missouri
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating five E. coli cases in people who have visited Grant's Farm, located in St. Louis, since May 2019. This investigation is ongoing and is focused on determining what may have led to the illnesses. Those five people are sick with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections (STEC). There is no word on whether any of the patients have been hospitalized, or if any have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a compilation of a STEC infection that can cause kidney failure. This complication is more common in children under the age of five. The press release also did not state the ages of the patients. Preliminary recommendations to Grant's Farm include reminders of the importance of handwashing after direct … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak Was Number One in 2018
The McDonald's cyclospora outbreak was the number one outbreak of 2018, with 511 people in 16 states sickened. Twenty four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence found that salads purchased from McDonald's were "one likely source of this outbreak." The FDA did not name other sources. On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed analysis of an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's by the Fresh Express processor in Streamwood, Illinois. They confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in the sample. However, the FDA did not identify a single source of point of contamination for this outbreak. The patient case count by state was: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (274), … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Associated With Williams Brothers Meat Market Ham in Washington MO
An E. coli outbreak is associated with ham sold at Williams Brothers Meat Market in Washington, Missouri, according to news reports. The Franklin County Health Department is investigating this outbreak, although there is no mention of the illnesses or the outbreak on that agency's website. Four people are apparently sick in this outbreak. No information about the patient age range, when they got sick, if anyone was hospitalized, or if anyone developed hemolytic uremic syndrome was included in any of the news reports. The news reports also did not state the serotype of E. coli that caused this particular outbreak. The Emissourian states that "an epidemiological investigation identified a link between the cases and a case reported in June." There are four confirmed cases of E. coli … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad Cyclospora Outbreak Ends; Lawsuits Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak appears to be over, according to the CDC. As of September 11, 2018, 551 people are sick in 15 states and New York City. They consumed "a variety of salads" from McDonald's restaurants in the Midwest. Twenty-four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed that salads purchased from McDonald's restaurants were the likely source of this outbreak. The salad supplier, Fresh Express, provided an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's; FDA analysis confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in that sample. No single source or point of contamination for this outbreak was found. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad Mix Cyclospora Outbreak Grows Again; Lawsuits Are Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express Salad cyclospora outbreak has grown again, according to the FDA. As of August 23, 2018, 507 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in people who ate salads served at McDonald's restaurants. Those sickened live in 15 states and New York City. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (273), Indiana (9), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (11), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), New York City (1), Ohio (15), South Dakota (18), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1). The patients in Connecticut, New York City, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida purchased McDonald's salads in other states. Twenty-four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. FDA is reviewing distribution and … [Read more...]
Perry County Salmonella Outbreak Associated with St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary Picnic
In response to the Salmonella outbreak in Perry County, Missouri, officials at the Perry County Health Department have posted a questionnaire for people who attended the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary Picnic that was held August 3 through August 5, 2018. At least 30 people are sick in this outbreak; three people were hospitalized. The seminary is located in Perryville, Missouri. No more information about this outbreak has been posted by the health department or any other public health official. We don't know if they are focusing on a particular food or if someone who handled food may have been ill. The questionnaire is only asking people who attended the picnic two fill out the form. The questionnaire asks when someone attended the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary picnic, … [Read more...]
Perry County Salmonella Outbreak in Missouri Sickens 23
A Perry County Salmonella outbreak of unknown origin has sickened at least 23 people in Missouri since August 6, 2018. Perry County Memorial Hospital issued a news release about this outbreak. Those 23 people went to the hospital through the emergency room inn the last week. The patient age range in this Perry County Salmonella outbreak is from 2 to 68. Three of the patients were admitted to the hospital. Two of those patients have been released, but one was transferred to a Cape hospital. The Perry County Memorial Hospital lab director reported the outbreak to the local and state health departments, and an investigation has begun. The state lab will receive cultures from infected pageants to start their epidemiological investigation. No source has been identified, and the … [Read more...]
