A cilantro condiment cup has tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg, according to the latest update on the mystery Salmonella outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the sample was then from a takeout condiment cup containing cilantro, lime, and onions. State and local officials have collected food items from one of the restaurants where sick people ate. But because multiple food items were ini the condiment cup and in the sample that was tested, it is "not possible" to know which food item was contaminated. Public health officials are using this information together with other information to help narrow the list of possible foods that may be linked to these illnesses. But in a dendrogram that was posted on the National … [Read more...]
Cilantro May Be the Source in Mystery Multistate Salmonella Outbreak
Cilantro may be the source in the mystery multistate Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak, according to a dendrogram on the National Center for Biotechnology Information site, part of the National Institutes of Health. According to that information, cilantro has tested positive for Salmonella Oranienburg, the bacteria that has caused this outbreak. Cilantro has been linked to many food poisoning outbreaks in the past. It is a herb that is commonly used in Tex-Mex cooking. And 43% of the cases in this outbreak are in Texas and Oklahoma. In 2015, cilantro was linked to a huge cyclospora outbreak that sickened at least 218 people in Texas and Wisconsin. And in 2014, another cyclospora outbreak was linked to fresh cilantro. The same thing happened in 2013. Going further back, in 2008, … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Outbreak Expands to 279 Sick and 26 Hospitalized
The mystery Salmonella outbreak has suddenly expanded to 279 sick and 26 hospitalized in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 152 new patients and eight new hospitalizations in just the last four days, with four more states added to the total. The pathogen is Salmonella Oranienburg. The government still does not know what food has caused this massive outbreak. And since Salmonella illnesses are very underreported, with a multiplier used by epidemiologists of 29, there could be more than 8,000 people sick in just this particular outbreak. The patient case count by state is: Arkansas (7), California (5), Connecticut (5), Florida (2), Illinois (28), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Kansas (6), Maryland (9), Massachusetts (10), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Oranienburg Outbreak Sickens 127, Hospitalizes 18
A Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak with an unknown food source that has sickened 127 people in 25 states has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a specific food has not been identified, this outbreak is growing rapidly, according to the government. The outbreak was first announced on FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table on September 15, 2021. The case count by state is: Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (3), Illinois (5), Iowa (1), Kansas (5), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), Minnesota (13), Missouri (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (3), New York (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (45), Utah (1), Virginia (9), and … [Read more...]
Swan Bros Dairy Raw Milk Recalled in Oklahoma For Possible Listeria
Swan Bros Dairy raw milk is being recalled in Oklahoma because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The detection of Listeria is confirmed. This is a statewide recall. Anyone who has purchased or received raw milk products from Swan Bros Dairy is strongly urged to dispose of it. One person has tested positive for the bacterial infection from these products. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry found the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a sample collected from the dairy. The raw milk products were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallons, and pint containers directly from the Swan Bros Dairy in Claremore, Oklahoma. The recalled products include raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream sold in pints. Public health officials are … [Read more...]
Oklahoma E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Second Highest in Nation
The Oklahoma E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, which is part of the national outbreak the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday, is the second highest in the nation with five out of sixteen total sick. Officials are concerned about this outbreak because of fast growth and a high hospitalization rate of 56%. That is much higher than the typical 30% hospitalization rate for the average E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. In addition, three people have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. That rate of 19% is also much higher than the average 4% rate of HUS development in E. coli outbreaks. The CDC is warning people that if they have severe symptoms of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak they should immediately … [Read more...]
New Deadly E. coli Outbreak Causing Severe Illnesses and Hospitalizations
A new deadly E. coli outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of February 1, 2021, 16 people in five states are sick with E. coli O157:H7 infections. The investigation notice states that "CDC is concerned about the growing number of severe illnesses and hospitalizations in this outbreak. If you have E. coli symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider and report your illness to your local health department." The states where people are sick are Washington (2), Oklahoma (5), Arkansas (6), Virginia (2), and New York (1). Illness onset dates range from December 23, 2020 to January 7, 2021. Recent illnesses may not yet be reported since it can take two to four weeks to link illnesses to an outbreak. The patient age range is from 10 to 95 … [Read more...]
Swan Bros. Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak Sickens 10 in Oklahoma
A raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Oklahoma that has sickened ten people is linked to Swan Bros. Dairy, which is located in Claremore. The dairy is recalling its raw milk products, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. Officials found Campylobacter jejuni in the products. The recalled items are: raw whole milk, raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream. They were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallon, and pints directly from the dairy. The milk was sold between April 9, 2020, and June 22, 2020. Raw milk has not been pasteurized, which is a process of briefly heating the milk to destroy pathogens. Because a cow's udders are so close to her anus, milk can be contaminated with many different pathogens, including Campylobacter, E. coli, … [Read more...]
Oklahoma Among States Hit by Sweetwater Sprouts Salmonella Lawsuit
There are at least three people sick in Oklahoma with Salmonella Muenchen infections linked to raw sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms. Five people total in this outbreak have bene hospitalized; no deaths have been reported. Sweetwater Farms, located in Inman, Kansas has been tested. Investigators found Salmonella in samples of irrigation water and in sprouts collected during an inspection at that facility. Testing is underway to determine the type and DNA fingerprint of Salmonella isolated from these samples. Alfalfa sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms are not safe to eat because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. There has been a recall attached to this outbreak; all of the company's sprout products have been recalled from the market as of February 26, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in KS and OK Associated with Sprouts
The Kansas Department of health and Environment is reporting that a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened eight people in two states is associated with sprouts grown at Sweetwater Farms in Inman, Kansas. Five people in Kansas and three people in Oklahoma are sick. The KDHE, the FDA, the CDC, the Oklahoma Department of Health, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture have been working together on this outbreak. The last date of illness onset was in late January in a man from Kansas. Three Oklahoma cases have been matched to the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Public health officials have inspected Sweetwater Farms and found samples of irrigation water and products that have tested positive for Salmonella, although the exact strain of the pathogenic bacteria has not been identified. Lab … [Read more...]
