The Wawona Peaches Salmonella outbreak was the number three multistate outbreak of 2020, with at least 101 sick in 17 states. There were many primary and secondary recalls of bagged and bulk peaches and peach products related to this outbreak. The patient case count by state was: California (1), Connecticut 91), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1), Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). Illness onset dates ranged from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. The patient age range was from 1 to 92 years. Of 90 patients who gave information about their illness to investigators, 28 were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 31%, which is … [Read more...]
Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak is Number Ten in Top Outbreaks of 2020
During this strange, pandemic-plagued year, there were exactly ten multistate food poisoning outbreaks to fill out our end of the year Top 10 list. Four of the outbreaks are still going on, and three are not linked to any particular food source yet. The Number 10 food poisoning outbreak for 2020 is the ongoing deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. This outbreak has sickened 11 people in 3 states. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (3). One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. The patient age range is from 4o to 89 years. All of those sickened have been hospitalized. Officials say that deli meat is the likely source of this outbreak, since all ten people interviewed for the investigation said they ate Italian-style deli meats, such … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Deli Meat Outbreak Updated
The deadly Listeria monocytogenes deli meat outbreak has grown to include one more patient, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One death has sadly been reported from Florida. The last update about this outbreak was posted on October 23, 2020. The patient case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (3). The newly diagnosed patient lives in New York. The patient age range is from 40 t0 89 years. And the illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 30, 2020. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that deli meat is a likely source of this outback. No specific type of deli meat, any store, or a common supplier has been linked to these illnesses yet. Public health officials interviewed 10 ill patients about … [Read more...]
Potential Hepatitis A Exposure at Trading Post in Yates County, NY
A potential Hepatitis A exposure at the Trading Post Restaurant in Yates County, New York may have exposed patrons to the virus, according to the Yates County Health Department. The notice did not definitively state what the risk was, although it's usually an employee who worked while infectious. The dates that posed a risk for hepatitis A exposure are October 18, 20, 23, 25, and 28, 2020. Most people do not get sick when a food worker has hepatitis A, but there is still a risk, according to the notice. Unfortunately, those dates are all outside the two week window when a hepatitis A vaccine is effective. Anyone who visited that restaurant during those dates should monitor themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A, and see their doctor if any do appear. If you ate at that … [Read more...]
History of Meat and Cheese Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreaks
There is a new deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to deli meats and cheeses. Ten people are sick in three states, including Florida, Massachusetts, and New York, and one person who lived in Florida has died. All ten patients were hospitalized. While people at high risk for serious complications of food poisoning are warned to stay away from deli meats and cheeses, how often are outbreaks linked to those products? The issue is usually one of cross-contamination. If there is Listeria monocytogenes contamination in a deli, the pathogen can spread via slicing machines. One this pathogen is established, it can resist cleaning. These outbreaks don't happen often, and each one doesn't sicken many people, but those who do get sick are usually hospitalized. This is a … [Read more...]
Deli Meat Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 10 in 3 States
A deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened 10 people in three states, according to a notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic evidence shows that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (2). All ten patients have been hospitalized. One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. Illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 3, 2020. The patient age range is from 40 to 89 years. Nine of the patients were interviewed by investigators. All of them said that they ate Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto, before they got sick. They bought prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at different … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation into the Peach Salmonella Outbreak Continues As It Ends
The FDA investigation into the peach Salmonella outbreak is continuing even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the outbreak over. At least 101 people in 17 states were sickened in this outbreak which was first identified in August 2020. Twenty-eight patients were hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1) Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). The ages of patients ranged from 1 to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. No deaths were reported. This outbreak prompted many recalls, including secondary … [Read more...]
Bath NY Dunkin Donuts Employee Tested Positive For Hepatitis A
The Steuben County Public Health Department has confirmed a case of hepatitis A in a Bath NY Dunkin Donuts employee who worked while contagious. That restaurant is located at 350 West Morris Street in Bath, New York. Anyone who ate food or consumed drink from that establishment from August 17 through August 22, 2020 may have been exposed to the virus. While there is a low risk of contracting the virus, anyone who hasn't been vaccinated or who has not had the illness should monitor their health for symptoms of the virus. The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route, by ingesting small, undetected amounts of stool from and infected person. This can happen through sharing food or drink, eating at a restaurant where and infected person works, or by touching contaminated … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatits A Exposure at PF Chang’s in Destiny, USA, NY
A possible hepatitis A exposure at PF Chang's in Destiny USA, which is located at 9090 Destiny USA Drive in Syracuse, New York, may have put customers at risk for contracting the virus, according to news reports and the Onondaga County Health Department. A restaurant worker who handles food at that establishment was diagnosed with the illness. Anyone who ate or drank at that facility between Friday, July 31, 2020 and Sunday, August 2, 2020 may have been exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, it's too late for the immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccine, since those shots are only effective when given within two weeks of exposure. It's been 18 days since the last possible exposure occurred. If you were at that restaurant on the above dates, monitor yourself and your family for the … [Read more...]
Taco Bell Hepatitis A Exposure On Erie Blvd. in Rome, New York
There has been a Taco Bell hepatitis A exposure at the restaurant on Erie Boulevard in Rome, New York. That employee worked while infectious, according to a press release by the Oneida County Health Department. The employee worked from June 11, 2020 to June 22, 2020, and from June 24, 25, 29, July 2, and July 3, 2020 at different times, mostly 6:00 pm to 2:00 am. That means that anyone who ate there on June 24, 2020 needs to be vaccinated by today, July 8, 2020. The hepatitis A and immune globulin vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. This Taco Bell hepatitis A exposure may have exposed many people to the virus. Anyone who has been vaccinated or who has had the disease is presumably immune and doesn't need another shot. Contact your healthcare … [Read more...]
