Update: Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are now linked to this outbreak. A Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh whole papayas imported from Mexico has sickened at least 62 people in 8 states. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they were so sick. No recall has been announced. The papayas were sold in retail stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (12), New York (24), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 019 to June 8, 2019. Most illnesses have occurred since April 2019. The patient age range is from 1 to 86 years. Sixty-six percent of … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Linked to Deli Meats and Cheeses
A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to deli sliced meats and cheeses has just been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eight people are sick in four states; one person who lived in Michigan has died. All eight patients have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so serious. The patient case count by state is: Michigan (2), New Jersey (1), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (3). Illness onset dates range from November 13, 2016 to March 4, 2019. The patient age range is from 40 to 88 years. It's unusual that illnesses that occurred more than 2 years ago are only now being announced in an outbreak, but this has happened before in Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks; most notably in the Blue Bell ice cream outbreak. Investigators use … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Outbreak Grows to 43 Sick; 16 Hospitalized
The FDA has updated the E. coli O157:H7 romaine lettuce outbreak. Now 43 people in 12 states are sick. That's an increase of 11 patients since the last update on November 20, 2018. Sixteen people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The case count by state is: California (11), Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (9), New York (5), Ohio (1), Rhode Island (1), and Wisconsin (1). The patient age range is from 1 to 74 years. Of the 38 people who were interviewed by officials, 16, or 42%, have been hospitalized. The illness onset date range is from October 8 to October 31, 2018. There is new evidence about where the romaine that sickened … [Read more...]
Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Infantis Chicken Outbreak Hits Consumers in MA, NY, PA, NJ, OH Hard
The multidrug resistant Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to raw chicken has hit consumers in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania hard. Those states have 46 of the 92 patients who have been sickened in this multidrug-resistant Salmonella outbreak. We don't know why the outbreak has been concentrated in the northeast United States. While outbreaks are often limited to a certain geographical area, officials do not have a specific company or product that is linked to this outbreak. And there are illnesses in the southern U.S., the midwest, and the west coast as well. There are two big concerns about this Salmonella Infantis outbreak. The first is that the bacteria is resistant to so many antibiotics. That means that people may be sicker, and that their … [Read more...]
Lawyers Investigating Multistate E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just announced that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak they have been investigating is now linked to chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. As of April 12, 2018, 35 people in 11 states are sick with the outbreak strain. Twenty-two of those patients have been hospitalized; three patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No common growers, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified so far, but government officials recommended that anyone, anywhere in the country, who has purchased chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing that green, should throw it away. If you aren't sure where the lettuce came from, get rid of it. Discard it even if some of it has … [Read more...]
CDC Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections
A multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections is being investigated by the CDC, several states, the FDA, and the USDA. This is a continuation of the outbreak that started in New Jersey and was reported on by the New Jersey Department of Health. Earlier this week, the NJDOH reported that seven people were sick with E. coli infections in an outbreak that may be associated with a restaurant chain. Now, at least 17 people in 7 states are sick. Six people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Investigators are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this particular outbreak. DNA fingerprinting has been performed on isolates taken from ill persons using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Lab testing is … [Read more...]
New Jersey Updates E. coli Outbreak That May Be Linked to a Restaurant Chain
The E. coli outbreak in New Jersey has been updated by the New Jersey Department of Health. Eight people living in four counties in that state have been diagnosed with E. coli infections. Those counties are Hunterdon (4 patients), Warren (1 patient), Middlesex (1 patient) and Somerset (2 patients.) There is a "possible association with a chain restaurant" according to the outbreak notice. But the notice also states that "the association may be broader than a single chain restaurant." Lab tests are underway, and public health officials are waiting to see if the strain of E. coli bacteria in the eight patents in this E. coli outbreak match. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will then conduct confirmatory tests. All eight patients have been hospitalized in this … [Read more...]
New Jersey Officials Investigating Panera Breads as Possible E. coli Source
According to news reports, officials in New Jersey are "investigating a cluster of E. coli cases" that may be associated with "local Panera Breads," according to Sarah Perramant, public health epidemiologist in Warren County. This was reported by NJ.com yesterday afternoon. It's important to note that the cluster of E. coli illnesses in that state has not been definitively linked to the Panera restaurant chain, and that health officials have not determined that Panera is the source. In fact, the outbreak may extend beyond one single restaurant chain. The investigation is continuing, with investigators interviewing witnesses, conducting traceback investigations, and using other methods of outbreak epidemiology. The six people who are sick live in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somersest, … [Read more...]
Possible E. coli Outbreak in New Jersey May be Linked to Unnamed Restaurant Chain
An E. coli outbreak that has sickened six people in four counties may be linked to a restaurant chain, according to news reports. The Health Department reportedly said that those six patients live in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somersest, and Warren counties. There is no information about this potential E. coli outbreak on any of the New Jersey government websites. At this time we don't know the strain of bacteria that has made people sick, the ages of the patients, or illness onset dates. We also do not know if anyone has been hospitalized, or if anyone has developed HUS. Government officials are not naming the chain until this potential E. coli outbreak is confirmed. Officials are interviewing patients and asking where they have eaten in the past week, as well as the foods they … [Read more...]
New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey Warn Against Udder Milk Brucella Risk
The state health departments of New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey are all warning consumers about the possibility of Udder Milk Brucella contamination in raw milk. A New Jersey woman has been diagnosed with an antibiotic-resistant Brucella infection after her "reported purchase" of raw milk from Udder Milk. It is illegal to sell raw milk at the retail level in all of those states. Sales of raw goat milk directly to the consumer are permitted in Rhode Island with a doctor's prescription. You can buy raw milk directly on a farm in New York state. It is illegal to sell raw milk in any form in New Jersey. And it's illegal to transport and sell raw milk across state lines in the United States. Udder Milk received orders online. Then customers would meet drivers at specific drop … [Read more...]
