A possible hepatitis A exposure at a Waffle House restaurant, which is located at 1010 Vinehaven Drive Northeast in Concord, North Carolina, has been reported by the Cabarrus Health Alliance. That facility is on Exit 60 off Interstate 85. A worker at that restaurant may have worked while infectious with hepatitis A. Anyone who visited that restaurant and bought and ate food there on June 20, 2021 between the hours of 9:00 pm and 12:00 am, or on June 21, 2021 between the hours of 12:00 am and 7:00 am may have been exposed. The window for getting a vaccination is just two weeks after exposure. That means that anyone who ate there on June 21, 2021 must get vaccinated today. You may ask your doctor about getting vaccinated if you ate there on June 20. The hepatitis A vaccine is … [Read more...]
Gaston County Hepatitis A Outbreak Warning in North Carolina
Officials are warning the public about a Gaston County hepatitis A outbreak that may have started in the homeless and drug using population but now has spread to the general public and includes some people who were sickened after eating at food businesses. The Gaston County Health Department in North Carolina urged vaccination against this virus last month. According to the Gaston Gazette, a huge spike in cases has occurred in just the first three months of 2021. There were just 33 cases in the county from 2018 to 2020, but more than 120 cases of hepatitis A have been diagnosed this year so far. Officials would not name the businesses that may be involved in this outbreak. And more than 70% of these cases have required hospitalization. Hepatitis A can seriously damage the liver, … [Read more...]
NC Harris Teeter AFC Sushi Linked to Food Poisoning Outbreak in Concord
North Carolina Harris Teeter AFC sushi is linked to a food poisoning outbreak, according to a press release issued by the Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) in Concord, North Carolina. The Harris Teeter stores in question are located at 358 George W. Liles Parkway Northwest in Concord, and 1245 Concord Parkway North, also in Concord, North Carolina. When the press release was first issued four days ago, there were "more than 10 individuals" who were sick. But according to news reports, now as many as 128 people may be ill. Those 128 people belong to 85 households. Harris Teeter is using their loyalty card program to notify 429 households that they purchased that during during the timeframe in question. More than 100 transactions were made without a loyalty card, however. The sushi … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Doug Sauls’ Bar-B-Que & Seafood in NC
There was a Salmonella outbreak at Doug Sauls' Bar-B-Que & Seafood in Nash County, North Carolina at the end of November 2019 that sickened almost a dozen people, according to the Nash County Health Department. The restaurant, located at 813 Western Avenue in Nashville, North Carolina is re-opening after being closed on November 22, 2019 by public health officials. The press release states that "there were conditions present constituting an imminent health hazard," at the facility, so the closure was ordered. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Protection Division inspected the restaurant. Officials found Salmonella in equipment and food that is "likely to cause an immediate threat of serious adverse health effects." The strain of bacteria that sickened people is … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Doug Saul’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville, NC Sickens 14
A Salmonella outbreak Doug Saul's Bar-B-Que & Seafood restaurant located in Nashville, North Carolina has sickened at least 14 people, according to the Nash County Health Department. Ten of those people named the restaurant as a source of some of the food they ate before they got sick. That facility is located at 813 Western Avenue in Nashville. The Nash County Health Department immediately suspended the food establishment operating permit of the restaurant, stating that there were "conditions present constituting an imminent health hazard." The North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Protection Division found Salmonella in equipment and food that is "likely to cause an immediate threat of serious adverse health effects." This finding was reported as part of an … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Outbreak at Masonic Snow Lodge in Boone, NC Sickens 8
A food poisoning outbreak at the Masonic Snow Lodge at 240 Temple Drive in Boone, North Carolina has sickened eight people. All ate at a barbecue fundraiser that was held Friday, July 19, 2019. Those eight cases are laboratory confirmed. A "number of others" have also been sickened, according to the press release. The press release does not specify which pathogen has sickened these people. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which are typical for any number of bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The most common foodborne illnesses are caused by Salmonella, norovirus, Clostridium perfringens, and Campylobacter. Jennifer Green, Health Director of AppeHealthCare in Alleghany and Ashe counties in North Carolina, said in a statement, "We do not have a … [Read more...]
Butterball Ground Turkey Salmonella Schwarzengrund Outbreak Ends
The Salmonella Schwarzengrund outbreak linked to recalled Butterball ground turkey has ended with 7 sick in 3 states. One person was hospitalized in this outbreak, and there were no deaths. The case count by state is: Minnesota (2), North Carolina (2), and Wisconsin (4). Illness onset dates ranged from December 19, 2018 to March 16, 2019. The patient age range was from less than one year to 71. Butterball recalled more than 78,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products on March 14, 2019 that were shipped nationwide. The turkey was also packaged under the Food Lion and Kroger brands. The turkey was produced in July 2018. Some of this turkey, with establishment number "EST. P-7345" and a sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, could still be in consumers' freezers. Check your freezer to … [Read more...]
Butterball Ground Turkey Salmonella Schwarzengrund Outbreak Sickens 6
The Butterball ground turkey Salmonella Schwarzengrund outbreak first reported in a USDA recall notice has sickened 6 people in 3 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One person has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The patient case count by state is: Minnesota (1), North Carolina (1), and Wisconsin (4). Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 19, 2018 to February 2, 2019. The patient age range is from less than one year to 71. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that ground turkey produced by Butterball, LLC is the likely source of this Salmonella Schwarzengrund outbreak. Butterball recalled about 78,164 pounds of ground turkey products on March 13, 2019. The product was also sold under the Kroger and Food … [Read more...]
Two 2018 Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreaks Sicken 8, Kill One
There were just two Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks in the U.S. in 2018, but the results for those affected were severe. In all, eight people were sickened, all eight were hospitalized because they were so sick, and one person died. The first outbreak was linked to Johnston County Hams. Four people in 2 states were sickened ion that outbreak. One person, who lived in Virginia, died. On October 3, 2018, Johnston County Hams recalled ready-to-eat deli hams. One of the problems with deli meats is that the pathogen can survive the standard cleaning procedures most delis use and can be persistent. In that outbreak, public health investigators used the PulseNet system to find people who were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. The illness onset date ranged … [Read more...]
Johnston County Hams Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Ends With 4 Sick
The Johnston County Hams Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with four sick, according to a notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One person who lived in Virginia died, and the remaining four patients were hospitalized because they were so sick. Johnston County Hams, located in Smithfield, North Carolina, recalled their ham products on October 3, 2018 because of this outbreak. Several other secondary recalls were issued. The products that were recalled include: Johnston County Hams, Inc. Country Style Fully Cooked Boneless Deli Ham Ole Fashioned Sugar Cured The Old Dominion Brand Hams Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham with sell-by dates from 4/10/2018 to 9/27/2019 Padow’s Hams & Deli, Inc. Fully Cooked Country ham Boneless Glazed … [Read more...]
