Customers of the 7-Eleven store at 2666 West 7800 South in West Jordan, Utah may have been exposed to hepatitis A, according to the Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD). Anyone who used the restroom at that store, or consumed specific foods or beverages on certain dates may be at risk for contracting this illness. Anyone who visited the store from Tuesday, December 26, 2017 through Wednesday, January 3, 2018 and who used any restroom in the store is at risk. In addition, if you consumed these items: fountain drink or other self-serve beverage, fresh fruit, or any item from the store's hot food case, such as pizza, hot dogs, chicken wings, or taquitos is at risk. Packaged items, including microwaved foods and bottled beverages, are not implicated. Contact the health … [Read more...]
Deadly Utah-Arizona E. coli Outbreak Linked to Animals
The deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona has been linked to infected animals, followed by person-to-person contact, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. Several livestock have tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli. The owners of the animals have been contacted and given guidance to prevent further spread of this outback. All tests on water systems, springs, ground beef, produce, and dairy products conducted by public health officials were negative. There have been no new confirmed cases in this particular outbreak since July 9, 2017. Public health agencies will still monitor any disease activity in those towns and surrounding communities. Agencies involved in investigating and monitoring this outbreak include the … [Read more...]
Deadly Utah, Arizona E. coli Outbreak Not Linked to Ground Beef
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department has issued a news release about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. They say that while they are still investigating this outbreak, they have determined that ground beef is not a likely cause. the advisory not to consume previously purchased ground beef is discontinued. The advisory to not consume raw milk stays in place. The investigation has been joined by Mohave County Department of Health, Utah Department of Health, and the Arizona Department of Health Services, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are 12 people sickened in this outbreak. Two small children have died. News reports state that seven of the twelve patients have been hospitalized, and four have … [Read more...]
Deadly E. coli Outbreak in Utah/Arizona Has Sickened 12 People
The E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona has now sickened 12 people, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. David Heaton, Health Department spokesman, commented on the press release page, saying "Advisory is cautionary action as investigation includes focus on food contamination and animal exposure risk. Individual case information is not being released other than to confirm that most are children." The source of the outbreak has still not been identified. We do know that two children have died in this outbreak. News reports before this update say that four patients have developed HUS and that seven have been hospitalized, but the health department has not confirmed these numbers. HUS is a complication of an E. coli infection that destroys … [Read more...]
Agencies Added to Deadly Utah-Arizona E. coli Outbreak
The investigation into the deadly E. coli outbreak at the border of Utah and Arizona has been joined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Utah Department of Health, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Utah Department of Health, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. The confirmed case count stands at 11. Two children have died after being infected with E. coli bacteria. The source of the outbreak hasn't been identified, but warnings have been issued by various health departments against consuming raw milk and previously purchased ground beef. This most recent update also warned people that the illness can be spread person-to-person. The cities involved in this outbreak are Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. This is … [Read more...]
Update on Deadly E. coli Outbreak in Southwest Utah
An E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah that killed two children and originally sickened six has been updated by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. Now eleven people have been sickened in this outbreak. On July 5, 2017, testing on the city water system was negative for the pathogenic bacteria. On July 7, 2017, the case number increased to nine. Officials were continuing to test the water. Also on July 7, 2017, the Health Department told residents of Hildale and surrounding areas to not consume any previously purchased ground beef until further notice. Ground beef has been linked to E. coli in the past, especially when the meat is not cooked to 160°F. Then on July 11, 2017, the Department announced that there were 11 confirmed cases of E. coli in this outbreak. Officials … [Read more...]
Deadly E. coli Outbreak in Hildale, Utah Kills Two Children
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah was announced on the Southwest Utah Public Health Department's Facebook page. The announcement states, "Currently, this outbreak appears to be confined to a limited area with little or no risk to the larger community. We will post updates to this page." According to news reports, two children have died. A comment on the page states, "This E.coli investigation is specifically focusing on contaminated food or animal exposure." All of the water tested "so far" has been clean, according to public health officials. More information will be posted on the Department's Facebook page when it is available. The two children were hospitalized when they died, Deputy Marshal Daniel Musser told the Salt Lake Tribune. The exact number of illnesses is … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Outbreak and Raw Milk Consumption in Utah, 2014
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a report about the 2014 outbreak of Campylobacter infections in Utah associated with raw milk consumption. In May 2014, the Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL) notified the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) that three patients tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni infections that had the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. All three patients had consumed raw milk from "dairy A." This facility was identified as Ropelato Dairy in Ogden, Utah at the time. Raw milk sales are legal in Utah from the farm to the consumer with a sales permit. These dairies must submit monthly milk samples to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) for somatic cell and coliform counts. Coliform counts indicate the … [Read more...]
Costco E. coli O157:H7 Chicken Salad Outbreak: It’s the Veggies
The FDA has announced that it appears onions and celery in Costco chicken salad may be the source of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria that has sickened at least 19 people in 7 states. Those people live in California (1), Colorado (4), Missouri (1), Montana (6), Utah (5), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). According to news outlets, Taylor Farms in Salinas, California is the supplier of the vegetables for Costco Wholesale. The vegetables from that supplier are used in the chicken salads sold in all of the company's U.S. stores. Of those 19 ill persons, 16 have been interviewed. Fourteen of those people purchased or ate rotisserie chicken salad from Costco stores the week before they got sick. Five of the patients have been hospitalized, and two are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome … [Read more...]
Here’s What to Do if You Purchased Costco Chicken Salad Linked to an E. coli Outbreak
Chicken salad made and sold at Costco Wholesale stores in seven states has sickened at least 19 people with E. coli O157:H7 infections. Those sickened live in Washington state, Montana, California, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, and Virginia. The CDC, FDA, and USDA are investigating this outbreak, along with public health officials in the affected states. Five of the 19 patients have been hospitalized, and two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Fourteen of sixteen people interviewed purchased or ate rotisserie chicken salad from Costco the week before they got sick. With such a wide distribution of case patients, it's probable that an ingredient used to make that salad in the stores and purchased in bulk by Costco is the source of the pathogenic bacteria. It is not probable … [Read more...]
