The Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has grown to include 19 ill persons. James Garrow of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health updated Food Poisoning Bulletin in an email. The Department cannot confirm whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The case count is accurate as of September 6, 2019. Public health officials continue investigating the source of the pathogen. The Health Alert stated that restaurants may be involved in this outbreak, but no specific restaurants have been named yet. The outbreak was originally reported on September 5, 2019. The age range of patients at that time was 7 to 90. This age range may have changed; but we don't know for sure. E. coli outbreaks in restaurants are not common, and most often are labeled "associated with" or "possible." … [Read more...]
Worker Diagnosed With Hepatitis A At Yumcious Donuts in Philadelphia
A food worker at Yumcious Donuts at the Quick Stop at 3001 Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to news reports. That person worked at that location between August 20, 2019 and September 4, 2019. While the risk of contracting the illness is "very low" according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, they are recommending that anyone who ate there within the last two weeks get vaccinated against the pathogenic virus. Unfortunately, at this time everyone who ate there when the worker was contagious is past the two week window when the vaccine is effective. If you have been vaccinated against hepatitis A in the past or have had the illness you are likely immune. Call your doctor and discuss this if you are concerned … [Read more...]
Two More Illnesses in Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Brings Total to 16
The Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has now sickened two more people, according to news reports. There are now 16 people sickened in that outbreak, which officials think is linked to restaurants in the area. However, officials are not releasing the names of restaurants they think are involved in this outbreak. James Garrow, spokesperson for the health department, said in a statement, "The Health Department's investigation, like all foodborne illness investigations, takes time. This a wide-ranging investigation that asks very sick people to list every single thing that they’ve eaten or drank, at the level of every individual ingredient, during the period when they were exposed to the bug. This generates a massive list of possible items and locations that may have been the … [Read more...]
Philadelphia E. coli Outbreak Sickens At Least 14
A Philadelphia E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 14 people, according to a Health Alert issued by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Public health officials "have identified a few shared restaurant exposures," in their ongoing case investigation, but no one restaurant or food has been named so far. In the past, E. coli outbreaks have been linked to ground beef, flour, animals at county fairs, raw milk, and lettuce. Just about any food can be contaminated with this pathogen through cross-contamination. The source of E. coli is typically found in the guts of ruminant animals such as cows and goats and is shed in their feces. Person-to-person transmission is also possible because the infectious does is small; just 10 bacteria. The patient age range in this outbreak … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Illness Associated with Bad Farms PA Raw Milk
One person is sick with a Campylobacter infection after allegedly drinking raw whole milk from BAD FARMS in Kempton, Pennsylvania, according to news reports. That farm is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The milk has been recalled and removed from store shelves. Tests taking during routine sampling indicated that the raw whole milk teated positive for Campylobacter bacteria. The milk was sold in plastic half gallons, gallons, and pints with a sell-by date of August 23, 2019. The milk was sold at Emmaus Farmer’s Market, Lehighton Farmers Market in Emmaus, Lehigh County, Trexlertown Farmers’ Market in Breinigsville, Lehigh County, and in BAD FARMS’ on-farm store and Wannamakers General Store, both in Kempton. Anyone who drank this milk and has been sick should contact their … [Read more...]
Food Worker at Imperial Kitchen in Philadelphia Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A food worker at Imperial Kitchen, located at 3164 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Anyone who purchased food from Imperial Kitchen between July 21 and August 6, 2019 may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus. Those vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who was ate at Imperial Kitchen more than two weeks ago may no longer be eligible for a vaccine; check with your doctor to make sure. The health department is offering the hepatitis A vaccine at no cost on Thursday, August 22, 2019 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at McPherson Square Park. You can contact the health department at 215-685-6741 during business hours if you have … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Pig Ear Dog Treat Salmonella Outbreak; 127 Sick
The multistate pig ear dog treat Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 127 people in 33 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-six people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No deaths have been reported to date. Since the last update on July 17, 2019, 34 more ill persons have been added to the outbreak total. Twenty-four of these patients are children under the age of 5. The CDC and FDA are now telling people not to buy or feed any pig ear dog treats to pets, including any that you may already have in your home. People can get sick after touching the treats, or after caring for or touching dogs who ate the snack. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Colorado (3), Connecticut (1), … [Read more...]
Creamworks Creamery Milk Associated With Pennsylvania Yersinia Outbreak
Creamworks Creamery milk is associated with a Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak in Pennsylvania, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. At least 17 people have laboratory-confirmed illnesses that "seem to be connected to only milk sold at the dairy," according to the release. Creamworks Creamery is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy producers, pasteurizes, and bottles milk on the farm and sell sit to local customers at an on-site farm stand, to restaurants, and to grocery stores. Yersinia enterocolitica causes symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If the pathogen gets into the bloodstream, it can attack other organs. Illness onset is typically four to six … [Read more...]
ADM Milling E. coli O26 Flour Outbreak Ends With 21 Sick
The E. coli O26 flour outbreak that was linked to recalled Aldi Baker's Corner, Pillsbury bread, and King Arthur flour has ended with 21 people in 9 states sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three people were hospitalized. There were no deaths. The case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (7), Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (2), and Rhode Island (1). Illness onset dates ranged from 7 to 86 years. Of 20 people who provided information to investigators, 3 were hospitalized. There were four recalls issued in relation to this outbreak, although no illnesses were linked to some of the products. They were recalled because they were made of the same lot of wheat used at ADM Milling to … [Read more...]
ALDI Baker’s Corner Flour Linked to E. coli O26 Outbreak
ALDI Baker's Corner flour has been linked to an E. coli O26 outbreak that has sickened at least 17 people in 8 states, according to the Centers for Diseases Control ands Prevention (CDC). That flour was recalled on May 23, 2019. The case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Pennsylvania (2), and Rhode Island (1). Illness onset dates range from December 11, 2018 to April 17, 2018. The patient age range is from 7 to 86 years. Of 17 people who have been interviewed by public health officials, 3 have been hospitalized. There is no information about whether or not any of the patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of an E. coli infection that causes kidney failure. Whole genome … [Read more...]
