A possible hepatitis A exposure at the Mustard Seed Restaurant in Fredonia, New York may have exposed patrons to the virus, according to a press release issued by the Chautauqua County Public Health Department. An employee worked there while infectious between April 1 and May 19, 2021. The risk of infection is low, but there is still a risk. The restaurant is located at 31 East Main Street in Fredonia. If you ate there, got take out, or had catered food from that restaurant during that time frame, you may have been exposed. Christine Schuyler, County Public Health Director said in a statement, "While the risk of hepatitis A infection is low, we must act prudently to prevent the spread of this very contagious disease. Anyone who may have eaten at this restaurant during this … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Cheese Listeria Outbreak Ends With 13 Sick, 1 Death
The El Abuelito cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with 13 people sick, 12 hospitalized, and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patients live in four states on the east coast. The case count by state is Connecticut (1), Maryland (5), New York (4), and Virginia (3). Illness onset dates range from October 20, 2020 to March 17, 2021. Twelve of the illnesses occurred in 2021. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 75 years. Twelve of the patients were Hispanic. One death was reported from Maryland. Four people got sick during their pregnancy, resulting in two pregnancy losses and one premature birth; the fourth person remained pregnant after recovering. State and local public health officials interviewed the patients … [Read more...]
Breese Hollow Dairy Raw Milk Recalled For Possible Listeria
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball warned consumers to not drink Breese Hollow Dairy raw milk because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Breese Hollow Dairy is located at 454 Breese Hollow Road in Hoosick Falls, New York. No illnesses have been reported to the Department in association with the consumption of this product to date. A sample of the raw milk that was collected by an inspector was contaminated with the pathogen. On April 23, 2021 the dairy was notified of a preliminary positive test result. A second test, that was completed on April 27, 2021, confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the raw milk. The dairy is prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Roma Sausage and Deli Employee in New York
Hepatitis A has been diagnosed in a Roma Sausage and Deli employee, according to the Oneida County, New York Health Department. That restaurant has two locations in Washington Mills and Utica, New York. The employee worked while infectious and may have exposed people who were patrons of the shops. The Health Department is alerting anyone who ate tomato pie on March 23, 24, 25 26, 27, 28, 30, 0r 31, 2021 from either of the Roma Sausage and Deli locations about the potential exposure. Anyone who ate the pie there on March 30 or 31 can still get a hepatitis A vaccine, which is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. You can get a vaccine at the Oneida County Health Department at vaccination clinic on April 13, 2021 or contact your doctor. Unfortunately, it's too late … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Plainville Ground Turkey Salmonella Hadar Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is weighing on on the Plainville ground turkey Salmonella Hadar outbreak that has sickened at least 28 people in 12 states. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data show that ground turkey has been making people sick. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (1), Connecticut (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), Massachusetts (7), Missouri (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (2), New York (4), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (4), and Virginia (2). Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Illness onset dates range from December 28, 2020 to march 4, 2021. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 92. The outbreak may not be limited to these states. The ground turkey products that are linked to the … [Read more...]
Happy Hollow Dairy Farm Raw Milk Recalled For Possible Listeria
Happy Hollow Dairy Farm raw milk is being recalled because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, according to the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets and news reports. That dairy is located in Springville, in western New York. No reports of illness have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this raw milk. Raw, or unpasteurized, milk has not been heat treated to kill potentially dangerous pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, Salmonella, and Brucella. In the pasteurization process, milk is briefly heated to a temperature that will destroy bacteria. The milk was collected by a state health inspector. There is zero tolerance for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in milk in New York State. Until more … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Cheeses Were More Widely Distributed Than First Thought
UPDATE 3/9/21: El Abuelito cheeses were also sold in Rhode Island. The FDA has updated its investigation into the deadly multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to recalled El Abuelito queso fresco and has revealed that El Abuelito cheeses were more widely distributed than first thought. The case count still stands at 11 sick, with 10 hospitalized and one death. Four patients were from Maryland and four from New York, with one from Connecticut and two from Virginia. The recalls are also unchanged. The first recall, issued on February 19, 2021, after whole genome sequencing testing conducted by the state of Connecticut found the outbreak strain in a sample of El Abuelito queso fresco, was for El Abuelito Queso Fresco as well as the brands Rio Grande and Rio Lindo … [Read more...]
Deadly El Abuelito Listeria Outbreak Case Count Rises to 11 Sick
The CDC and FDA have updated their investigation of the now deadly El Abuelito Listeria outbreak. As of March 1, 2021, eleven people in four states are sick. Ten people have been hospitalized, and one person who lived in Maryland has died. You can read the outbreak notice, which has not been updated with this new information, in Spanish here. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Maryland (4), New York (4), and Virginia (2). The new patient lives in Virginia. The patient age range is from less than one year to 75. Ten of the patients are Hispanic, and six are female. On February 28, 2021, El Abuelito Cheese Inc. recalled Quesillo and Requeson cheeses in addition to the previously recalled queso fresco cheeses that were made at the same facility. The queso fresco … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Quesillo and Requeson Cheeses Recalled For Listeria Risk
El Abuelito is expanding its recall of queso fresco cheeses on February 19, 2021 to include El Abuelito Quesillo and Requeson cheeses in addition to recalling all Queso Fresco products for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Queso fresco is fresh, soft cheese; Quesillo is Oaxaca and string cheese; and Requeson is ricotta. There is a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 10 people in four states that is linked to some El Abuelito queso fresco cheese products through whole genome sequencing conducted by the Connecticut Department of Health. Nine of those patients have been hospitalized, and two of the illnesses are pregnancy-related. All Queso Fresco products with sell by dates through March 28, 2021 (032821); all Quesillo products with … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Quesillo and Requeson Cheese Recalled in Listeria Outbreak
The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to El Abuelito queso fresco cheese. As part of this investigation and after an on-site inspection, the government is now recommending that consumers avoid El Abuelito Quesillo and Requeson cheese as well. El Abuelito Quesillo (Oxaca, string cheese), and Requeson (Ricotta) cheeses are manufactured or handled in the same facility as the Queso Fresco products that are linked through whole genome sequencing to this outbreak. This recommendation does not include any additional products with the El Abuelito brand because they are not manufactured or handled in the same facility. This includes El Abuelito Meat, Panela cheese, cotija cheese, mole, crema centroamericana, and crema … [Read more...]
