The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that uncooked and undercooked morels were associated with a deadly outbreak at Dave's Sushi in Bozeman Montana in March and April 2023 that killed two people. Fifty-one people were sickened after eating at that restaurant. Three people were hospitalized. The issue is that while morel mushrooms are considered edible, little is known about the human health effects of the fungi. In the study, the consumption of raw morels was more strongly associated with illness than the consumption of cooked or partially cooked morels. After the outbreak the CDC issued an advisory about eating morel mushrooms, whether cooked or not, saying that wild mushrooms should be consumed at your own risk. Morels were the common food consumed … [Read more...]
Belgrade Fall Festival Outbreak in Bozeman, Montana Sickens 200
A Belgrade Fall Festival outbreak in Bozeman, Montana has allegedly sickened at least 200 people, according to the Gallatin City-County Health Department and news reports. The Festival was held at the Belgrade Senior Center. According to the Gallatin City-County Health Department Facebook page, beef brisket served at the festival on September 16, 2023 is suspected as the source of these illnesses. All but one of those sickened ate the brisket. Officials do not know what pathogen caused this illness. Event coordinators are cooperating with the health department in its investigation of this outbreak. According to NBC Montana, the beef brisket is a tradition at that festival. The Belgrade Chamber of Commerce smokes the beef overnight before the day of the festival and serves the meat … [Read more...]
Deadly Dave’s Sushi Morel Mushroom Outbreak Ends With 51 Sick
The deadly Dave's Sushi morel mushrooms outbreak has ended with 51 people sick, according to the FDA, although the Gallatin City-County Health Department and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services are conducting follow-up activities. The FDA said that there does not appear to be any further risk to the public. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update on May 18, 2023. There were two deaths in this outbreak. Toxicology reports and autopsy reports have not been released. Three people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The last illness onset date was April 21, 2023. Symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. The mushrooms sampled from the restaurant were true morels, not "false morels," which are toxic. … [Read more...]
Q fever Raw Milk Warning Issued by Missoula Public Health
A Q fever raw milk warning has been issued by Missouri County Public Health in Montana after two cows tested positive for the pathogen Coxiella burnetii, the bacteria that causes the illness. Milk that was recently sold at a local farmers market came from that herd. While one of the cows had not yet produced milk, the other produced about 10% of the farmer's yield. The farm was not named. Environmental Health Director Shannon Therriault said in a statement, "We don’t know if the cow was shedding the bacteria at the time it was milked, or if that cow’s milk was sold at the farmers market. So we can’t say for sure whether anyone was exposed. However, what we do know is that unpasteurized milk can contain harmful bacteria that can make you and your loved ones sick. "While … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Morel Advisory After Dave’s Sushi Illnesses
The FDA releases Morel advisory after illnesses among patrons of Dave's Sushi in Bozeman, Montana. At least 50 people were sickened, and two customers died after eating at that establishment, although the manner of death has not been established. Morel mushrooms are most often foraged from the wild. While morel mushrooms are generally regarded as safe to eat, they may contain toxins that can cause health problems. The advisory states that the toxins that can cause illness are not fully understood. Cooking the mushrooms properly can reduce toxin levels, but the FDA says that people should eat morel and other wild-type mushrooms at their own risk. As of May 19, 2023, the outbreak at Dave's Sushi has sickened 50 people who ate at the restaurant between March 28 and April 27, 2023. … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Outbreak Remains Unsolved; Restaurant Reopens
The Dave's Sushi outbreak in Bozeman, Montana remains unsolved and the restaurant has opened because the Gallatin City-County Health Department has rescinded the closure order. A new health officer order has been issued, with corrective actions required before reopening. As of May 17, 2023, there are 50 people sick; an increase of nine more cases since the last update a week ago. Two people have died after eating at the restaurant, although those deaths are being investigated and the manner and causes of the deaths are pending until autopsy results are available. Food samples, including salmon and morel mushrooms, which were suspected in this outbreak, have been collected and analyzed. All samples have come back negative for a series of pathogens and toxins. The Gallatin … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Morel Mushroom Outbreak Sickens 41 in Montana
The Dave's Sushi morel mushroom outbreak has now sickened at least 41 people in Montana, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The Table states that morel mushrooms are the suspect food in this outbreak. Two deaths have occurred in patrons of that establishment after eating there. The case count has increased to 41 from 30 since the last update was issued on May 3, 2023. In that investigation, traceback has been initiated, and sample collection and analysis has begun. The Gallatin City-County Health Department, which is also investigating the outbreak, says that ill persons ate at the restaurant between March 31 and April 17, 2023. Three patrons had "severe outcomes," including hospitalizations, and the deaths of two patrons are being investigated. No causative … [Read more...]
Deadly Outbreak at Dave’s Sushi Sickens 30 in Bozeman, Montana
A deadly outbreak at Dave's Sushi in Bozeman, Montana has sickened at least 30 people, according to the Gallatin City-County Health Department. The notice, which was posted on the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) website, stated, "Three individuals had severe outcomes, including hospitalizations, and the deaths of two individuals are being investigated after eating at the restaurant." Officials say that they may not be able to identify a specific pathogen as the source. The food poisoning outbreak seems to be isolated to people who ate at Dave's Sushi between March 31 and April 17, 2023. DPHHS epidemiologist Rachel Hinnenkamp of the Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Section said in a statement, "DPHHS supports the Gallatin City-County Health … [Read more...]
Another Patron of Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman Montana Dies
Another patron of Dave's Sushi restaurant in Bozeman, Montana has died, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department and news reports. The sheriff "confirmed that this woman had been a patron at Dave's Sushi." But there are no details about when she ate at the restaurant, the cause of death has not been determined, and no one has officially linked the death to food served there. The woman, 64-year-old Donna Ventura of Belgrade, Montana, was hospitalized at the Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center. There is no information on how long she was hospitalized. The sheriff's department statement said, "Donna's death is suspected to be related to a foodborne illness." Autopsy reports can take weeks, and toxicology reports up to six months. Those results could shed … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Food Poisoning Outbreak Sickens Customers
A Dave's Sushi food poisoning outbreak has sickened an undetermined number of customers, according to news reports and the Gallatin City-Council Health Department. One man has died, but the cause of death has not yet been determined and that death has not been linked to the restaurant. The restaurant is located at 115 North Bozeman Avenue in Bozeman, Montana. The health department was told about the outbreak on April 17, 2023, and inspected the restaurant on April 18, 2023. The restaurant is closed while officials investigate. That inspection found four food safety violations on April 18. The violations were for inadequate temperature control, with spicy salmon at 46°F, and salmon Inure at 45°F. Any food between 40°F and 140°F can cause illness because that temperature range is … [Read more...]
