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...]
Now Ten Sick in the Frozen Strawberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
There are now ten sick in the frozen strawberries Hepatitis A outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of one more patient, who lives in Hawaii, which is a new state added to the outbreak case count. The case count by state is: Washington (6), California (2), Hawaii (1), and Oregon (1). Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to June 4, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Epidemiological and traceback evidence indicates that frozen organic strawberries that were imported fresh from "certain farms" in Baja, California in Mexico in 2022 are the source of this outbreak. And the hepatitis A virus strain that is making people sick is genetically … [Read more...]
Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak has ended with at least 26 people sick in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four people were hospitalized. Even though this outbreak is over, the government is warning consumers that eating raw cookie dough made with unpasteurized eggs and raw flour is a hazard and can make you sick. The case count by state is: California (2), Idaho (5), Missouri (1), Oregon (8), Utah (4), and Washington (6). That is an increase of eight more patients since the last update on May 23, 2023. The newly diagnosed ill persons live in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. The patient age range is from 14 to 81 years. Illness onset dates ranged from February 24, 2023 to May 28, 2023. State and local health … [Read more...]
Salmonella Berta Outbreak Sickens Six in King County, WA
A Salmonella Berta outbreak in King County, Washington has sickened six children, adolescents, and adults in that area, according to the King County Health Department. Two of the patients have been hospitalized. All six cases are linked through whole genome sequencing, which identifies the DNA of the pathogen. This indicates that they likely got sick from a common food or other source of infection. Illness onset dates range from April 14 to June 12, 2023. Most of the people who were interviewed reported eating pork, including various cuts cooked at home, and different types of seafood such as fish and crab. But no source of the pathogen has been identified. The six children, adolescents, and adults live in six different households. The patient age range is from 2 to 65 years … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak With New Recall
The FDA updates strawberry Hepatitis A outbreak information with the new recall for Wawona Frozen Foods Organic Daybreak Blend mix sold at Costco stores. The recall is for that product sold in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. The case count remains the same: California (2), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023, and the patient age range is from 38 to 64. Three people have been hospitalized. The Organic Daybreak Blend is packaged in 4 pound bags and has best by dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023, and 10/18/2023 with corresponding lot numbers. Other recalled products include brands California Splendor that supplied Costco stores, Scenic Fruit that supplied Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Cases at Two Snohomish County Taco Bell Locations
A hepatitis A case has been diagnosed in one employee who worked at two Snohomish County Taco Bell locations in Washington state, according to the Snohomish County Health Department. Anyone who ate food from the Taco Bell at 2727 Broadway on May 22 or May 23, 2023, or at the Taco Bell at 303 91st Avenue NE in Lake Stevens on May 23, 2023 may have been exposed and should contact their healthcare provider or public health. One food worker who teated positive for the virus worked at both locations while infectious. You should check to see if you are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A. If you have been vaccinated or if you had the virus in the past you do not need to take further action. If you are not vaccinated, talk to your doctor about getting a hepatitis A vaccination. … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Outbreak
The FDA weighs in on the Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people in six states. The cookie dough is Chocolate Chip Cookie and S'Mores Bars. They were sold at Papa Murphy's franchises. Twelve of 14 patients told Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators that they ate the raw dough before they got sick. Papa Murphy's has notified franchise owners about this issue nationwide and has stopped selling the product. They destroyed all of the doughs at all stores. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the contamination and whether more products are linked to illnesses. The case count by state is: California (1), Idaho (4), Missouri (1), Oregon (4), Utah (2) and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from … [Read more...]
