The FDA has updated its information on the deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas. Increased testing by the FDA has found papayas from two farms positive for Salmonella strains that matched illnesses not related to the initial outbreak. So the FDA is telling consumers not to eat Maradol papayas from these farms in Mexico: Carica de Campeche in Tenabo, Campeche, Mexico; Caraveo Produce in Tecomán, Colima, Mexico; and El Zapotanito in La Huerta, Jalisco, Mexico. No papayas are currently on the market from these farms because their shelf life has passed, but the agency is continuing traceback and trace forward activities. Other importers may have sourced papayas from those farms. Three brand of Maradol papayas have been recalled: Caribeña brand, distributed … [Read more...]
Salmonella Papaya Outbreak Case Count Increases to 210
The multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has now sickened at least 201 people in 23 states. One person in New York City has died. Since the last update on August 18, 2017, 28 more people have been sickened and two more states have reported ill persons: Florida and South Carolina. And the CDC says there are two more Salmonella outbreaks linked to papayas that were imported from two other farms in Mexico. A total of nine people are sickened in those two outbreaks, for a total of 210. The case count by state in the main outbreak is: Connecticut (7), Delaware (4), Florida (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (1), Maryland (9), Massachusetts (8), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (1), North Carolina (6), New Jersey (39), New York (61), … [Read more...]
FDA Describes Papayas to Avoid in Deadly Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has updated their investigation into the deadly multistate Salmonella outbreak that is linked to imported Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm located in Campeche, Mexico. Officials are telling consumers to avoid Caribeña, Cavi and Valery brands of Maradol papayas from that farm. The Cavi brand papayas have been distributed by Agroson's, the Caribeña brand distributed by Grande Produce, and Valery brand papayas have been distributed by Freshtex Produce LLC. Carica de Campeche farm has been added to the agency's Import Alerts after testing found multiple strains of Salmonella on the fruit. There are at least 173 people sickened in this outbreak, 58 hospitalizations, and one death in 21 states. And there are four strains of Salmonella found in isolates taken … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Papaya Outbreak Has Sickened 173 in 21 States
The deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has sickened 173 people in 21 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two more states have reported patients: Missouri and Tennessee. There are now four different types of Salmonella: KIambu, Thompson, Agona, and Gaminara. The same strain of these types were found in samples collected from ill persons and from papayas. The case count by state is: Connecticut (6), Delaware (4), Iowa (2), Illinois (3), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (8), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (1), North Carolina (5), New Jersey (36), New York (50), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), Pennsylvania (8), Tennessee (1), Texas (9), Virginia (16), Wisconsin (1). Fifty-eight patients have been … [Read more...]
Deadly Papaya Salmonella Outbreak: How is the Fruit Contaminated?
The ongoing deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has sickened at least 141 people in 19 states. Since Salmonella is such an underreported illness, with a multiplier of 38, that means that there could be more than 5,000 people sick in this particular outbreak in the United States. But how does Salmonella get on papayas? That is not a food typically associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. Salmonella is ubiquitous in the environment. It is present in the soil, in the feces of animals and birds, and some people carry it. Any food can be contaminated with Salmonella, but produce is quite susceptible to it because it is a natural product. There have been quite a few outbreaks in the past few years caused by produce contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli, … [Read more...]
Deadly Papaya Salmonella Outbreak Has Sickened 141
The deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has now sickened at least 141 people in 19 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty two more ill people from 15 states have been added to the investigation since the last update last Friday. Three more states have now reported patents: Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. The case count by state is: Connecticut (5), Delaware (4), Iowa (2), Illinois (2), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (6), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (27) New York (39), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), Pennsylvania (8), Texas (7), Virginia (14), and Wisconsin (1). Forty-five ill persons have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York … [Read more...]
Salmonella Kiambu and Thompson Outbreak Linked to Papayas
The CDC has updated its investigation into the Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas. Now, the investigation, which was originally focused on Salmonella Kiambu infections, has been expanded to include Salmonella Thompson infections. The case count still stands at 109 people sick. Forty-eight people are sick with Salmonella Kiambu infections, and 61 people are sick with Salmonella Thompson infections. Those patients live in 16 states across the country. Thirty-five patients have been hospitalized, and one death was reported from New York City. Illnesses began in May 2017 and continue. All evidence, including epidemiologic and laboratory, indicate that Maradol papayas imported from Mexico "are the likely source of this multistate outbreak." Caribbean, Cavi, and … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Papaya Outbreak Sickens 109
The deadly Salmonella Kiambu outbreak linked to papayas has now sickened at least 109 people in 16 states. That's an increase of 64 more ill persons from the last update on July 21, 2017. Six more states have reported patients since then: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. This outbreak began when Maryland officials started investigating a Salmonella cluster in their state. They found two types of Salmonella: Kiambu and Thompson. Officials were not sure if those sickened with Salmonella Thompson were part of this outbreak. Now, laboratory tests showed that the strain of Salmonella Thompson isolated from papayas collected in the Maryland investigation is "closely related genetically" to clinical isolates from patients so they are part of the … [Read more...]
New Jersey Hit Hard by Papaya Salmonella Outbreak
There are at least 12 people sickened with Salmonella Kiambu infections in New Jersey that are linked to imported Maradol papayas. there are at least 47 people sickened nationwide in this particular outbreak. Twelve people have been hospitalized so far, and one person died in New York City. All epidemiologic and laboratory evidence collected to date indicates that yellow Maradol papayas are a likely source of this multistate outbreak. The CDC recommends that consumers not eat, restaurants not serve, and retailers not sell Maradol papayas from Mexico until the investigation is further along. Caribeña brand papayas from Mexico have been identified as one brand linked to this outbreak. They were distributed by Grande Produce, which issued a limited recall on July 26, 2017. That … [Read more...]
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu Infections Linked to Papayas
The CDC has updated its information about the deadly multistate outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu infections linked to imported Maradol papayas. The case count is still at 47 people sick in 12 states, with 12 hospitalized and one death in New York City. Grande Produce has recalled Caribbean brand Maradol papayas that were distributed between July 10 and July 19, 2017. This is one brand that has been linked to the outbreak. Officials think that more brands will be announced as the investigation proceeds, since there are illnesses in states where Grande Produce does not do business. A sticker on the Maradol papaya should say if it is Caribeña brand and if it is from Mexico. The CDC is still recommending that consumers do not eat, restaurants do not serve, and retailers not sell … [Read more...]