The Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli outbreak, which also included Nature's Basket Power Greens, has ended with 10 people sick in four states, according to the FDA. Four of those patients were hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The case count by state is: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The last illness onset date was December 19, 2021. Consumer purchase data indicated that seven people bought Nature's Basket Power Greens or Simple Truth Organic Power Greens at grocery stores before they got sick. These products are past expiration and should no longer be available for purchase. But if you have frozen any of these products with a "Best if Used by" date through December 20, 2021, they … [Read more...]
Three Mystery E. coli Outbreaks in Iowa, Kentucky, and Oregon Unsolved
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, there have been more unsolved food poisoning outbreaks around the country. In 2020, three multistate E. coli outbreaks that sickened more than 50 people were never solved. This year, there are three mystery E coli outbreaks in Iowa, Kentucky, and Oregon that are unsolved. The Iowa E. coli outbreak in June 2021 sickened several children who live in Maquoketa in Jackson County and has not been solved. The children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. One little boy had a stroke and was placed in medically induced coma, and was recovering. In Jackson County in Oregon, at least 16 people were sickened with E. coli infections in August. Twelve people were hospitalized because they were so sick. … [Read more...]
Jackson County Oregon E. coli Outbreak Update: 16 Sick, 12 Hospitalized
The Jackson County E. coli outbreak has been updated by the Jackson County Department of Health in their September 2021 Flash Report. The number of cases remains at 16, with 12 patients hospitalized. There has been no change in the number of patients since the last update in late August, 2021. However, there is more information in this update about the patients themselves. The patient age range is from 11 months to 65 years, with the median age 23.5 years. Most of those sickened are in their teens and twenties, and most are male. County health officials are working with the Oregon Health Authority on this Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. There is still not a definitive hypothesis on the source of infection. Genome sequencing has been completed on patient isolates, … [Read more...]
E. coli Jackson County Outbreak Sickens 16, Hospitalizes 12
The E. coli Jackson County outbreak has now sickened 16 people, according to a new notice from Jackson County Public Health. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update on August 25, 2021. This Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak has hospitalized 12 of those patients, for a hospitalization rate of 75%, which is extremely high for this type of outbreak. Most of the patients are in their teens and twenties. These numbers have been reported to the county since August 8, 2021. Jackson County Public Health is working with the Oregon Health Authority on this investigation. Dr. Jim Shames, Health Officer for Jackson County Public Health said in a statement, "Right now, we do not have a definitive hypothesis on what the source of infection may be. The genome sequencing, … [Read more...]
Jackson County E. coli Outbreak Sickens 15 in Oregon; 10 Hospitalized
A Jackson County E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 15 people, according to a Flash Report from the Jackson County Health Department in Oregon and news outlets. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) cases have been occurring since August 1, 2021. Ten people are hospitalized, including several children. There is no indication yet what has caused these illnesses. E. coli outbreaks in the past have been linked to romaine lettuce, cake mix, flour, raw sprouts, restaurants, yogurt, raw milk, and ground beef. Officials are asking healthcare providers in the area to be aware of the increases in this type of illness. They are also asking doctors to refrain from treating any patients who present with gastrointestinal illnesses with antibiotics. When given to STEC patients, … [Read more...]
Red Onion Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 1,127 Sick
The red onion Salmonella outbreak ends, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 1,127 sick in 48 states and 167 people hospitalized. While the outbreak is over, there is still risk to consumers because these onions could be in home pantries and freezers. That's an increase of 115 more patients and one more state, Oklahoma, since the last update on September 1, 2020. The patient case count by state is: Alaska (25), Alabama (2), Arizona (39), Arkansas (2), California (128), Colorado (32), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (43), Illinois (54), Indiana (4), Iowa (31), Kansas (3), Kentucky (3), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (19), Mississippi (5), Missouri (11), Montana (72), … [Read more...]
Shigellosis Outbreak at Small Pharaoh #1 Food Cart in Portland, Oregon
A Shigellosis outbreak at Small Pharaoh #1 Food Cart at SW 5th and Stark in downtown Portland, Oregon has sickened at least four people. Four cases are confirmed, and there are three other presumptive cases with symptoms who have not been tested, according to the Multnomah County Health Department. The food cart was closed on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 after public health officials linked the cart to the illnesses. This is the first food cart closure in Multnomah county in many years for food concerns. Food carts are inspected, regulated, and scored just like brick and mortar restaurants in that county. Shigellosis is caused by the shigella bacteria that is spread through food, water, or person to person. The bacteria is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Symptoms usually … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In on Multistate Red Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the multistate red onion Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 396 people in 34 states. The FDA is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada, where more than a hundred people are sick with the same strain of Salmonella Newport. On July 30, 2020, Canadian health officials announced they had determined that red onions from the U.S. were a potential source of the outbreak. Sysco red onions that were imported from the United States were recalled in that country. Then on August 1, 2020, Thomson International recalled all varieties of onions in the U.S. and Canada that could have come into contact with the potentially contaminated red onions, including yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions grown and packaged by that company. The … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Newport Outbreak Sickens 212; 31 Hospitalizations
The mystery Salmonella Newport outbreak sickens 212 in 23 states with 31 hospitalized, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak is growing rapidly, with 87 new lab confirmed patients since the last update three days ago. And eight new states have been added to the case count: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Maine, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Virginia. The case count by state is: Arizona (13), California (10), Florida (1), Idaho (5), Illinois (9), Iowa (10), Maine (2), Michigan (15), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Montana (11), Nebraska (5), North Carolina (3), North Dakota (3), Ohio (5), Oregon (51), South Dakota (6), Tennessee (2), Utah (40), Virginia (3), Washington (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (9). The illness onset … [Read more...]
Could the Oregon Salmonella Outbreak Be Part of Larger Outbreak?
Earlier this week we told you about and Oregon Salmonella outbreak that was potentially associated with Si Casa Flores restaurant in Grants Pass, Oregon. According to a report by KOBI5, the food and environmental tests did not find any of that pathogen. This could be because the food that caused the problem has been eaten or discarded, or that the ill persons have another potential source in common. The Josephine County Public Health Department also told that station that the outbreak could be part of a larger Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 125 people in 15 states. Because the distribution of cases is so wide in the multistate outbreak, the odds are that a food item is the cause of the outbreak. People are sick in Oregon, Montana, Utah, California, North … [Read more...]
