An E. coli O103 outbreak sickens 96 in 5 states, according to the CDC. The outbreak was first announced less than two weeks ago and the number of patients has more than quadrupled in 10 days. Eleven people have been hospitalized. No one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this illness The investigation is still ongoing. No food, restaurant, grocery store, or other source has been identified. Previous reports had mentioned fast food restaurants as a possible source, in addition to foods such as ground beef. But the CDC is not recommending that consumers avoid any food or outlet. The case count by state is: Georgia (17), Kentucky (46), Ohio (5), Tennessee (26), and Virginia (2). The patient age range is from 1 to 81 … [Read more...]
Twenty-One Sick in Tennessee E. coli O103 Outbreak
Twenty-one people are sick in the Tennessee E. coli O103 outbreak that has also sickened people in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia. The outbreak was first noticed in Kentucky in late March 2019. The cases exploded in one week from 20 sick to more than 72. And officials do not know what caused this outbreak. There has been no mention by public health officials about possible sources, although news reports have mentioned ground beef, chicken, and American cheese. What officials have said is that they think exposure to fast food may be associated with this outbreak; if not fast food, then some other type of food distribution system, since the illnesses are so widespread. It's unusual that so many people are sick with the same strain of pathogen and no one knows the source. To … [Read more...]
E. coli O103 Outbreak Sickens 72 in 5 States; 8 Hospitalized
The E. coli O103 outbreak that started in Kentucky last week, with 20 sick, has exploded into an outbreak that has sickened at least 72 people in 5 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those illnesses are confirmed. Eight people have been hospitalized. Barbara Fox, Public Information Officer with the Cabinet for Health and Family Affairs in Kentucky, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that 46 are sick in Kentucky, with 6 hospitalized. No source, such as a restaurant or grocery store, and no food, such as ground beef, lettuce, or sprouts, has been named yet. In addition, no patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection that can cause kidney failure. That … [Read more...]
Now 44 Sick in Unsolved Kentucky E. coli O103 Outbreak
At least 44 people who live in 24 Kentucky counties have lab-confirmed E. coli O103 infections, according to information from the Madison County Health Department in that state. Three of those patients live in Madison County. This information about this E. coli O103 outbreak was transmitted from the Kentucky Department of Public Health in an online meeting. The age range of patients is from 1 to 81 years, with a median age of 18. Twenty-five patients are female, and 19 are male. Six people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Cases have also been reported in Ohio, Tennessee, and Georgia. Public health officials are working to solve this outbreak. What we know is that they have not identified a specific food or restaurant, but the fact that this outbreak is so … [Read more...]
Kentucky E. coli O103 Outbreak Rises to 44 Sick, TN, OH, GA Included
The Kentucky E. coli O103 outbreak has now risen to 44 sick, as of April 3, 2019, according to news reports. Six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, but there is no mention if any have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that can cause strokes. And there are 20 pending cases that are not yet lab-confirmed. The only official report to date from Kentucky Department of Health lists the outbreak total as 20, but that was posted on Friday, March 29, 2019. This is the largest E. coli outbreak in Kentucky since 2000. Dr. Mel Bennett, who heads Kentucky's infectious disease efforts, told WEKU that the outbreak has spread to Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia. We do not know how many people are sickened in each of those states. Officials still think … [Read more...]
E. coli O103 Outbreak in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana
The E. coli O103 outbreak originally announced in Kentucky yesterday apparently also has sickened people living in Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana, according to news reports. Twenty confirmed cases are in Kentucky, and one each in the other states for a total of 23 ill. Most of the illnesses occurred between March 5 and 25, 2019. The cases in Kentucky are spread among several counties throughout the state. Fayette county, in the northeastern part of the state, has the most cases with five. But officials say there isn't enough commonality between those five cases to establish a source of the pathogen. No source, whether food or venue, has been named in this outbreak, but officials in Kentucky have stated that "extensive exposure to fast food" may be linked to these illnesses. Fast … [Read more...]
Outback Steakhouse Rivergate Employee in Nashville Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
An employee at the Outback Steakhouse Restaurant Rivergate at 1560 Gallatin Pike North in Madison, Tennessee has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A. That person worked at the restaurant while he had symptoms December 22 to December 24, 2018. The Metro Public Health Department announced this in a press release. Madison is near Nashville. A special clinic to offer free vaccinations will be open at the Lentz Public Health Center at 2500 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville to anyone who dined at that location on those dates. You have until January 7, 2019 to be vaccinated. The clinic hours will be January 3 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; January 8 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; January 5 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and January 7 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The vaccinations are only effective if given … [Read more...]
Gravel Ridge Farms Shell Eggs Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak Ends; Some May Sue
The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that is linked to recalled Gravel Ridge Farms shell eggs has ended with 44 people sick in 11 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twelve people in this outbreak were hospitalized because their illnesses were so serious. The case count by state is: Alabama (7), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Montana (1), New York (1), Ohio (4), Tennessee (25), and Texas (1). The patient age range is from one year to 94. Of 378 people interviewed, 12 were hospitalized, for a rate of 32%. That's high for a Salmonella outbreak; the typical hospitalization rate for this illness is about 20%. Gravel Ridge Farms recalled their cage-free large eggs with use-by dates from July 25 through October 3, 2018. … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Gravel Ridge Farms Shell Eggs Grows; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Gravel Ridge Farms eggs has grown to include 38 people sick in 7 states, according to the CDC. Ten people have been hospitalized. That's an increase of 24 more ill persons added to the outbreak total since the last update on September 10, 2018. The case count by state is: Alabama (7), Colorado (1), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Ohio (4), Montana (1), and Tennessee (23). Illness onset dates range from June 17, 2018 to August 16, 2018. The patient age range is from one year to 94. Thirty-one percent of these people have been hospitalized, which is high for a Salmonella outbreak. The typical hospitalization rate is about 20%. Of the 29 people interviewed in this outbreak, 76% reported eating restaurant dishes made with eggs. The FDA and their … [Read more...]
Lawyer Asks Where Were Gravel Ridge Farms Eggs Linked to Salmonella Outbreak Sold?
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker wants to know where the cage free shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms that are linked to a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak were sold. "We know that most of those sickened ate the eggs at restaurants. But we don't know the names of those restaurants or where they were located," he said. The Alabama Department of Public Health states that a gastrointestinal outbreak occurred among people who attended a catered event on July 30, 2018. Two of those sickened have confirmed Salmonella Enteritidis infections. The press release from Alabama also states that "Individuals who consumed an undercooked food item made with eggs were almost four times more likely to become ill than those who did not consume the food." The press release also states, "Most of those … [Read more...]
