The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That's an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics. Do not eat or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may include basil imported from Mexico, unless you are absolutely certain it was not imported by Siga Logistics. If you don't know where the basil you want to use came from, don't use it. The last illness onset in this outbreak occurred on July 18, … [Read more...]
Muddy River Dairy Raw Milk Tests Positive for Listeria
Raw milk from Muddy River Dairy in Otsego County, New York has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, according to a news reports. Muddy River Dairy is not allowed to sell raw milk until new testing samples come back without contamination. (The news report lists the county where the dairy is located as Otsego and Otego.) There have not been any reported illnesses linked to this issue. Symptoms of listeriosis, the illness caused by this bacteria, can take up to 70 days to appear. People experience high fever, stiff neck, serious headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women are most seriously affected by this infection, and while they may only be mildly ill with what seems like the flu, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and infection in the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Brixx and Barley Restaurant in Long Beach, NY
A Salmonella outbreak at the Brixx and Barley Restaurant in Long Beach, New York has sickened people. There was no mention of patient numbers, age ranges, or all of the illness onset dates in the statement by the Nassau County Department of Health. We don't know whether or not any patients have been hospitalized. And there is no mention of a possible food source that is being investigated. The Brixx and Barley restaurant has been closed by the Department of health while the investigation is conducted. The restaurant is located at 152 West Park Avenue in Long Beach. Officials think that this outbreak could date back to early July 2019. Salmonella outbreaks at restaurants in the past have been linked to tomatoes, raw tuna, and eggs. The foods that are most often associated with … [Read more...]
Churchtown Dairy Raw Milk Recalled For Possible Listeria
Churchtown Dairy raw milk is being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. That dairy is located in Columbia county at 357 County Route 12 in Hudson, New York. The dairy's name is Foundation for Ag Integrity, doing business as Churchtown Dairy. No illnesses have been reported to the Department to date in association with this recalled product. A sample of the unpasteurized milk collected by a department inspector tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result on July 25, 2019. Further lab testing, which was completed on July 30, 2019, confirmed the presence of the pathogen. The producer is prohibited from selling raw milk … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Pig Ear Dog Treat Salmonella Outbreak; 127 Sick
The multistate pig ear dog treat Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 127 people in 33 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-six people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No deaths have been reported to date. Since the last update on July 17, 2019, 34 more ill persons have been added to the outbreak total. Twenty-four of these patients are children under the age of 5. The CDC and FDA are now telling people not to buy or feed any pig ear dog treats to pets, including any that you may already have in your home. People can get sick after touching the treats, or after caring for or touching dogs who ate the snack. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Colorado (3), Connecticut (1), … [Read more...]
Imported Fresh Basil Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 132 in 11 States
A cyclospora outbreak linked to imported fresh basil has sickened at least 132 people in 11 states, according to the FDA. The basil was by the firm Siga Logistics de RL de CV, located in Morelos, Mexico. The FDA has requested a voluntary recall of the basil and the firm has agreed. We don't know the case count by state yet, illness onset dates, or the patient age range, but ill people live in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Exposures occurred at restaurants in four states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics from Morelos, Mexico. That includes … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Illness Spike in New York City Causes Concern
A cyclospora illness spike in New York city have raised concern among public health officials. More than 90 cases have been reported in that city since January 1, 2019, compared to 56 cases in in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period. Since July 1, 2019 alone there have been 40 cases diagnosed and reported to the New York City Health Department. About 30% of those patients have traveled outside the U.S. two weeks, mostly to Latin America, before they got sick, which is the typical reason people contract this infection. The cyclospora parasite is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Investigators are looking at the 70% of cyclospora cases who did not travel outside the country to see if there is a possible common food source. New York … [Read more...]
Agroson’s Will Not Recall Cavi Papayas Likely Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Salmonella Uganda outbreak likely linked to fresh papayas imported from Mexico, stating that they have asked Agroson's LLC, the distributor of the Cavi brand of papayas, to recall that product. Agroson's has refused to initiate a recall. The FDA has contacted the company's wholesale customers to make sure that the fruit is no longer for sale, has been discarded, or has not been further processed or frozen. The FDA is recommending that consumers in all states not eat Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas and should throw them away. If you can't determine the brand of papayas you purchased, discard them. And retailers, restaurants and other food service providers should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas under the Cavi brand. The update also states that … [Read more...]
Pig Ear Dog Treat Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 93; Multiple Strains Found
The pig ear dog treat Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 93 people in 27 states. Twenty people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Colorado (2), Florida (2), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Illinois (6), Indiana (4), Iowa (18), Kansas (3), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (4), Michigan (9), Minnesota (1), Missouri (5), New York (11), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Ohio (5), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (3), South Carolina (1), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3). The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 90. Of 67 people who provided information to investigators, 20, or 30%, has been hospitalized. That is 50% higher than the typical percentage in Salmonella … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Bison Burgers E. coli O103 and O121 Outbreak
An E. coli O103 and O121 outbreak linked to Northfork Bison ground bison and Bison Burgers/Buffalo Burgers has sickened at least 21 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These products are imported from Canada. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (4), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (2), New York (9), and Pennsylvania (3). Eight people have been hospitalized. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, have been reported. Illness onset dates range from March 18 to June 18, 2019. The patient age range is from 6 to 79 years. Six people are sick with E. coli O103, 13 are sick with E. coli O121, and 2 people are sick with both of these pathogens. Epidemiologic and traceback information … [Read more...]
