Restaurants are included in a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 127 people in 25 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The government does not yet know which food item caused this outbreak, or if there is another cause. Eighteen people, out of 49 that gave information to health officials, have been hospitalized, which is a rate of 37%, almost double the typical Salmonella outbreak rate. This could mean that more vulnerable people were sickened, or that the pathogen is quite virulent, or that the pathogen load in the food was quite high. The CDC has stated that several subclusters at restaurants in multiple states have been identified. These subclusters can help officials solve outbreaks, since they can use traceback from … [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...]
El Sombrero Salmonella Outbreak Updated by McHenry County DOH
The El Sombrero Salmonella outbreak investigation has been updated by the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). That county has still not named the number of people sickened in the outbreak or released any information about the patient age range, illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The restaurant is located in Fox River Grove, Illinois. Officials want to remind anyone who ate at that restaurant recently that if they are in sensitive occupations, they should exclude themselves from work and school and seek medical evaluations if they are experiencing any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Sensitive occupations include food handlers, daycare workers, and healthcare workers. If you are in a sensitive occupation and develop symptoms of Salmonella food … [Read more...]
El Sombrero Salmonella Outbreak in Fox River Grove, Illinois
An El Sombrero Salmonella outbreak in Fox River Grove, Illinois has sickened an unnamed number of people, according to the McHenry County Department of Health. The restaurant is located at 314 Lincoln Avenue in that city. The business has voluntarily closed and is cooperating with public health officials during the investigation. The county is asking that anyone who ate there from August 23, 2021 to September 3, 2021 complete a survey to assist the county in collecting data to conduct a comprehensive investigation of this outbreak. The survey is a secure and is HIPAA compliant, and no personal or medical information will be released. The survey includes questions about symptoms, illness onset, doctor's visits, and foods that were eaten at the restaurant. Even if you ate there and … [Read more...]
Protracted Intermittent Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Michigan Restaurant
In the Centers for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of August 20, 2021, a report details the protracted intermittent Salmonella outbreak that was linked to a restaurant in Michigan from 2008 to 2019. The Salmonella Mbandaka contamination was impossible to eradicate, and the restaurant was permanently closed in 2018. In 2018, Michigan public health officials found that a single restaurant in southwest Michigan was the source for the Salmonella Mbandaka infections since 2008. Isolates from 36 ill persons shared two highly related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and highly related whole genome sequencing subtypes. The first focus of the investigation was on food items. Sporadic case definitions over years, along with difficulty in … [Read more...]
Seattle Oyster Vibrio Outbreak Associated With Eight Restaurants
A Seattle oyster Vibrio outbreak is associated with eight restaurants in that Washington city, according to a notice posted on the King County Public Health website. The meal dates for these illnesses range from June 28, 2021 to July 17, 2021. A least 12 people are sick. The restaurants are: The CrabPot at 1301 Alaskan Way; Crawfish King at 701 8th Avenue South, Damn the Weather at 116 1st Avenue South; Salty's on Alki at 1936 Harbor Avenue Southwest; Taylor Shellfish at 1521 Melrose Avenue; Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar at 1916 Pike Place; Walrus and Carpenter at 4743 Ballard Avenue Northwest #1b; and White Swan Public House at 1001 Fairview Avenue North. All of these restaurants are located in Seattle. The case count by restaurant is: The Crabpot (4), Crawfish King (1), Damn the … [Read more...]
Possible E. coli Outbreak at Portillo’s Restaurant in Glendale Heights, Illinois
A possible E. coli outbreak at Portillo's restaurant in Glendale Heights, Illinois may have sickened four people, according to news reports. There is no information about this potential outbreak on the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) website. Portillo's management has stated that they are cooperating with the investigation. The Chicago Tribune reports that IDPH stated in a health alert, "Four cases of a toxin producing the bacteria and one case of a resultant blood syndrome stemmed from customers eating at [the restaurant]." That most likely means that four people have E. coli infections and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The patients allegedly ate at the restaurant, which is located at 235 East North … [Read more...]
Ten USDA Tips To Keep Restaurant Leftovers Safe at Home
The USDA is offering ten tips to keep restaurant leftovers safe when you take them home. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is easing, more people are going out to eat. But how you handle doggie bags can have an impact on your health. Firsts of all, if you are having dinner before going to a movie or shopping, do not take leftovers. Perishable food needs to be refrigerated within two hours after it comes out of the oven or fridge. Since it probably took you about an hour to eat, you don't have much time to refrigerate the food. Second, bring the food directly home. The faster you get it into the fridge, the lower the chance that bacteria will grow. Third, you can refrigerate meat and poultry leftovers at 40°F or below for four days. Eggs and lunch meats can be stored in the fridge … [Read more...]
Possible Salmonella Outbreak at Don Julio in North Branch, Minnesota
A possible Salmonella outbreak at Don Julio restaurant in North Branch, Minnesota is being investigated by the Minnesota Department of Health, according to Information Officer Doug Schultz. He told Food Poisoning Bulletin that officials are investigating Salmonella cases that reported eating at that restaurant. Mr. Schultz added that there is not a risk to the general public from this outbreak. Because the investigation is new and ongoing, there is no information about the number of patients, any hospitalizations, illness onset dates, the patient age range, or if the investigation is focusing on food or employees. Don Julio is a Mexican-themed restaurant that has six locations in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis. The North Branch location is at 5466 St. Croix Trail, Suites … [Read more...]
Arby’s Norovirus Outbreak in Springfield, Illinois Sickens 92
An Arby's norovirus outbreak in Springfield, Illinois has sickened at least 92 people and the restaurant has closed for a second time in less than a month. That restaurant is located at 3009 South Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. Sangamon County public health officials confirmed to News Channel 20 that norovirus is the cause of the illnesses. Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that causes symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Illness onset is quick, usually within a couple of hours, and the illness resolves quickly, often with a day or two, with patients typically not needing medical attention. The illness is spread person-to-person, through contact with contaminated surfaces, and through contaminated food and drink. The restaurant closed in late February after about … [Read more...]
