There are now 52 kids sick with Wanabana Applesauce lead poisoning, according to the FDA. That is an increase of 18 more cases in the last five days. And the government says that recalled WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree is still on the shelves at several Dollar Tree stores in "multiple states." This product should not be for sale and consumers should not buy this product. As of November 22, 2023, there are 52 reports of adverse events submitted to the FDA that are potentially linked to this recalled product. And the FDA says there are still incoming adverse event reports. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (1), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2) Iowa (1), Illinois (2), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (4), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (3), Michigan (3), … [Read more...]
May Be 22 Lead Poisoning Cases in WanaBana Applesauce Recall
There are may be 22 lead poisoning cases in the WanaBana applesauce recall issue, according to the FDA. This is an increase of 15 more cases since the last update last week. The FDA and state partners are collecting and analyzing more produce samples of fruit puree and applesauce pouches. So far, the FDA has found no problems with any non-recalled products. The case count by state is: Alabama (12), Arkansas (1), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (5), New Mexico (1), New York (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Washington (1), and unknown (1). The illness report date ranges are from October 17, 2023 to November 7, 2023. We do not know the patient age ranges, although the initial report from North Carolina indicated … [Read more...]
Yakima County Shigella Outbreak Sickens 72 in Washington
A Yakima County Shigella outbreak has sickened at least 72 people in Washington state, according to the Yakima Health District. Officials do not know how people contracted this infection, or how it is being spread. They also do not know if contact with surfaces, or if eating food prepared by someone with a Shigella infection are explanations for this outbreak. The 72 patients have been diagnosed in that county from January 1, 2023, through October 16, 2023. Last year, only 10 cases were diagnosed in the same time period. Public health officials are asking the community to start using preventative measures to reduce the spread of this pathogen as the holiday season approaches. Shigella is very contagious and spreads easily through person to person contact. You can also contract … [Read more...]
CrackleMi Café Salmonella Outbreak in Seattle, WA Sickens Three
A CrackleMi Café Salmonella outbreak in Seattle, Washington has sickened at least three people, according to the King County Public Health Department. The illnesses occurred in August, but the investigation into the outbreak was announced on September 21, 2023. That restaurant is located at 709 North 35th Street in Seattle. Illness onset dates range from August 16 through August 20, 2023. The patients ate at that cafe on dates ranging from August 7 to August 17, 2023. The patient age range is from 23 to 38 years. All three patients developed one or more symptoms that are consistent with salmonellosis, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal ramps, diarrhea, stool that is bloody, and fever. All three patients had confirmatory testing that indicated Salmonella infections via culture. … [Read more...]
Tacos El Guero Food Truck Outbreak in WA Sickens 34
A Tacos El Guero food truck outbreak in Kirkland, Washington has sickened at least 34 people, according to the Seattle King County Health Department. Officials do not yet know the exact food or drink that caused these illnesses. The outbreak is associated with a private event that was catered by a Tacos El Guero food truck on September 14, 2023. No patients were hospitalized. The 34 patients developed one or more symptoms that are consistent with a bacterial toxin infection, including abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Illness onset dates range from September 14, 2023 to September 15, 2023. In the news release about the outbreak, information about Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, two pathogens that cause symptoms quickly after infection, was provided. The exact … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Ends with 10 Sick
The frozen strawberries hepatitis A outbreak has ended with 10 people sick in four states. Four patients were hospitalized because they were so ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There were several recalls issued in relation to this outbreak. The CDC is recommending that anyone who bought those berries should not eat, serve, or sell them. The case count by state is: Washington (6), California (2), Hawaii (1), and Oregon (1). Illness onset dates ranged from November 24, 2022 to May 27, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that frozen organic strawberries that were imported fresh from a single farm in Baja California, Mexico in … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Outbreak Associated With Tacoma Frugals Milkshakes
A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is associated with milkshakes served at the Tacoma Frugals restaurant has hospitalized six people, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Three patients have sadly died. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria was found in all milkshake flavors sold at that restaurant, which is located at 10727 Pacific Avenue South in Tacoma, Washington. All six patients in this outbreak had health issues that made them more vulnerable to infections. Two people who were hospitalized and survived said they ate the Tacoma Frugals' milkshakes before they got sick. Because ice cream has been linked to listeriosis outbreaks in the past, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department collected samples from the restaurant on August 8, 2023, and today … [Read more...]
Cyclospora and Salmonella Outbreaks Increase; Remain Mysteries
There are now seven active outbreak investigations on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. Of those outbreaks, only one is solved. The others, including three cyclospora outbreaks, one Salmonella outbreak, one E. coli O26 outbreak, and one E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, remain unsolved. For the first cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased to 47 sick, up from 39 in the last update. Traceback has been initiated, and samples have been collected and are being analyzed. In the second cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased from 121 sick to 140. In that investigation, traceback has started and samples have been collected and analyzed. In the third cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased by one more patient, from 68 to 69. Traceback has started, an … [Read more...]
Seattle Washington Care Center Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 29
A Seattle Washington Care Center Salmonella outbreak has sickened 29 p[people and hospitalized six, according to the Seattle King County Health Department. That facility is located at 2821 South Walden Street in Seattle, Washington. Illness onset dates ranged from July 1 to July 5, 2023. The meal dates were June 29 and June 30, 2023. The facility is a long term care facility that is not usually open to the public. Officials believe that the outbreak was likely caused by contaminated food served at the facility. The outbreak appears to be over. The 29 people who were sickened had symptoms consistent with salmonellosis. They include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. No ill food workers were identified. Eight of the 29 people had confirmatory testing indicating … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak in Western Washington
A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in western Washington state has sickened five patients, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Officials from that department are working with the Washington State Department of Health and the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department to investigate this outbreak. All of the patients were hospitalized and three have died. All the cases were patients with weakened immune systems who were in their 60s or 70s. Four of the patients are in Pierce county, and one is in Thurston county. Public health officials are interviewing patients or their families to try to identify common exposures. No food or common exposure has been identified yet. People who are most at risk for serious complications from a … [Read more...]
