The New Mexico Department of Health says that they are investigating six cases of cryptosporidiosis associated with raw milk products. That illness is caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite. Also investigating the outbreak are the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico Environment Department. Those cases have been reported to the government since August 31, 2016. Each person sickened said they consumed raw milk products before getting sick. All of those sickened live in Bernalillo County. There is no word on any potential recall, or if any of the patients have been hospitalized, their ages, or conditions. Secretary of Health Designate Lynn Gallagher said in a statement, "raw milk products may be contaminated with a variety of infectious pathogens. We are … [Read more...]
Arizona Confirms 5th Patient in Listeria Caramel Apple Outbreak
Arizona marked its fifth case of Listeria from contaminated caramel apples in January, making it a leading state in a deadly outbreak that also has harmed a number of babies and expecting mothers. Now with five case patients, the Grand Canyon State has as many confirmed illnesses in the outbreak as Missouri and just one less than New Mexico, which leads all states with six listeriosis victims who fell sick after eating commercially produced, pre-packaged caramel apples. With two other new cases recorded in early January, the collective toll now stands at 35 Listeria infections in 12 states attributed to contaminated caramel apples. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas and California also have multiple residents who were infected. According to a revised outbreak summary published by the … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Listeria Deaths a Focus of Apple Associations
The California Apple Commission is working with other apple producing states and the U.S. Apple Association regarding the outbreak of listeriosis that state and federal health authorities have associated with commercially produced, pre-packaged caramel apples. In a December 23 newsletter piece about the deadly caramel apple outbreak, the state-authorized commission recapped some details of the investigation, quoting a CDC document that said “at this time, no illnesses related to this outbreak have been linked to apples that are not caramel-coated and not prepackaged or to caramel candy.” As the newsletter stated, the investigation is still working to determine specific brands or types of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples that may be linked to the illnesses. So far, … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak Draws Varied State Responses
Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah and California are among the states to contribute their own public alerts and announcements about the caramel apple Listeria outbreak that has been associated with four deaths, three cases of bacterial meningitis and nine serious illnesses among pregnant women and babies. The visible involvement by health departments in those states to combat the outbreak and educate citizens stands in contrast to public silences kept by other states where people have been confirmed as case patients. "States contributing to the public awareness of this outbreak are helping to save lives,'' said Fred Pritzker, a food safety lawyer who represents Listeria outbreak victims. "They haven't been afraid to stand behind their science and call out makers of commercially produced … [Read more...]
Listeria Meningitis Deepens Threat of Caramel Apple Outbreak
Federal officials have taken special note of Listeria meningitis illnesses associated with a closely watched outbreak of listeriosis associated with consumption of pre-packaged, commercially produced caramel apples. Outbreak analysis by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that three otherwise healthy children aged 5 to 15 contracted invasive meningitis from the type of Listeria associated with the outbreak. Depending on the severity of these cases, the families of these children likely have been immersed in critical care situations because meningitis infects a person's central nervous system. The more common type of illness from Listeria monocytogenes -- also deadly -- is infection of a person's bloodstream. Listeria meningitis is severe. While most people with … [Read more...]
Townsend Farms Hepatitis A Outbreak Includes Four in New Mexico
The hepatitis A outbreak associated “Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend” frozen berry and pomegranate mix has sickened 79 people in eight states including four in New Mexico, according to state health officials. The New Mexico cases include a 51-year-old man and a 54-year-old man, both from Bernalillo County, a 54-year-old man from Sandoval County, and a 41-year-old woman from Santa Fe County. “We want to make sure people who have eaten this product within the last 14 days know that they can avoid illness by receiving a hepatitis A vaccination or immunoglobulin,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Retta Ward, MPH in a statement. “Many local pharmacies have the hepatitis A vaccine and it is covered by a number of insurance plans. Local health care providers may also have … [Read more...]
