The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has ended after sickening 20 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 2 more illnesses since the last update on December 11, 2019. The case count by state as of February 19, 2020 is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), Pennsylvania (1), and Wisconsin (6). The CDC update did not provide the current case count numbers by state, but the FDA did. Pennsylvania was added to the state list, and one more ill person in Wisconsin was added. Illness onset dates ranged from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range was from 14 to 72 years. Of 19 people who gave information about their illness to investigators, 11, or … [Read more...]
Lincoln Correctional Center Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 6 in Nebraska
A Lincoln Correctional Center Salmonella outbreak in Nebraska has sickened at least six inmates, according to a press release by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Food poisoning outbreaks at prisons and jails are fairly common because of close quarters and serving large quantities of food. However, none of the inmates incarcerated during the Lincoln Correctional Center Salmonella outbreak were tested when they got sick. All are recovering from their symptoms. Most of the patients were from one particular housing unit at the LCC. Dr. Harbans Deol, medical director at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) said that it is likely that all of the patients consumed something that caused their illnesses. "Salmonella is one of those medical conditions … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to 18 Sick
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has grown again to include 18 sick in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases are potentially linked to conventionally grown blackberries sold at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores and Woodman's Market stores in several states from September 9, 2019 through September 30, 2019. The case count by state is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), and Wisconsin (5). Illness onset dates range from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Ten people, or 59% of those interviewed, have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage for a hepatitis A outbreak. This outbreak could still grow, since hepatitis A … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 16 in 6 States
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 16 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has found that those sickened in this outbreak ate fresh, conventionally grown blackberries from that store chain. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (2), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (4), and Missouri (1). The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Illness onset dates ranges from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. Of 15 people who gave information about their health to the government, 9, or 60%, have been hospitalized. That is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. Of people who were interviewed, 15 out of 15 said they ate fresh … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Has Now Sickened 14
The Fresh Thyme Blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened at least 14 people in five states, according to the FDA. Minnesota has been added to the states where ill persons live. The other states with patients are Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. That's an increase of three more patients in the last four days since the first investigation announcement. Eight people have been hospitalized because they are so sick, which is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. The last illness onset date was November 15, 2019. Since it can take two weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear, this outbreak is likely to grow. Based on epidemiological information, patients said they ate fresh conventionally grown blackberries purchased from Fresh Thyme Market … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. The CDC recommends that anyone who bought fresh conventionally grown blackberries at any Fresh Thyme Farmers Market location during the time frame of September 9 through September 30, 2019 not eat them. As of November 20, 2019, there are eleven people ill in three states. The case count by state is: Indiana (2), Nebraska (6), and Wisconsin (3). Illness onset dates range from October 15, 2019 to November 5, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Fifty-five percent of patients have been hospitalized. In interviews, patients answered questions about the foods they ate before they got sick. All of … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries Associated With Hepatitis A Outbreak
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries are associated with a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. Six of those people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a grocery store chain with facilities across the Midwest. The people who are sick live in Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The blackberries in question are conventionally grown, not organic. Epidemiological evidence shows that patients ate fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores. While patients are sick in three states, traceback information shows that the berries come from a distribution center that ships the blackberries to Fresh Thyme stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Elite Childcare Academy in Omaha, NE
A possible Salmonella outbreak at Elite Childcare Academy in Omaha, Nebraska may have sickened an unknown number of children, according to news reports. The Douglas County Health Department is investigating. One hundred children are enrolled. Officials do not know how many children may have been sickened, since there can be a 72 hour incubation period with Salmonella infections. The business told news outlets that there are confirmed cases of Salmonella among some of the children. Moreover, some children can be infected with the pathogen and not show any symptoms, but can pass the illness on to others. Investigators have not found the cause of the illnesses. The daycare sent a notice to parents and guardians of children who attend that daycare, asking them to complete a survey … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak in 2017 Associated with Well Water Supply in Nebraska
The February 22, 2019 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Morftality Weekly Report had a study about a Campylobacter outbreak in 2017 that was associated with the municipal water supply in Nebraska. At least 39 people were sickened after they drank untreated city water. The city was not named, just called "City A." Apparently, a center pivot irrigation system, that was supposed to pump livestock waste into farmland malfunctioned. Runoff collected in a road ditch near two wells that fed the water supply. There were 33 probable and 6 confirmed cases in this outbreak. Untreated unboiled city A tap water was the only exposure that was significantly associated with illness. The city is served by four untreated wells and an interconnected distribution system. After the wells were … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Hy-Vee Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Salads; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA has weighed in on the Hy-Vee Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salads. At least 21 people in five states have been sickened in this outbreak. Five people are hospitalized because their illnesses are so serious. The case count by state is: Iowa (8), Minnesota (7), Missouri (1), Nebraska (4), and South Dakota (1). The patient age range is from 5 to 89. Illness onset dates range from June 23, 2018 to July 3, 2018. The FDA first learned about this outbreak on July 16, 2018. The FDA, CDC, and state partners started investigating this outbreak and identified Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad as a possible source of these illnesses. On that same day, Hy-Vee removed the Spring Pasta Salad products from all of its 244 stores located in llinois, Iowa, Kansas, … [Read more...]
