St. John Creamery raw goat milk is being voluntarily recalled for possible E. coli contamination in Washington state. The same product was recalled in September 2021 for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. No known illnesses are associated with the consumption of this recalled goat milk at this time. The recalled product is St. John Creamery raw goat milk that is bottled in half-gallon and one-pint containers. It was sold at the dairy's on farm store, directly to private customers in drop groups, and at retail stores in western Washington state. The milk has best by dates through 110521 (November 5, 2021). It is legal to sell and buy raw milk in Washington state, but all of these products must have a warning label that details the risks of consumption. You can see a … [Read more...]
Williams Valley Family Farm Raw Milk Recalled For E. coli Contamination
Williams Valley Family Farm raw milk has been recalled because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, according to the Washington state Department of Health. The dairy is located in Clayton, Washington. There is no post on the Department of Health agency's website about this recall, but an email alert has been distributed. No reports of illness due to the consumption of this raw milk have been reported to the company or to public health officials as of October 14, 2021. The milk was shipped to retail locations in eastern and western Washington state. Public health officials will provide more distribution details when they become available. It is legal to sell raw milk at the retail level in that state. The raw milk was distributed in gallon and half-gallon containers. … [Read more...]
Georgetown Outbreak Was Norovirus; 130 Students and Staff Sickened
The Georgetown outbreak was norovirus, according to a new update posted on the University web site. In one week, 130 students, faculty, and staff reported symptoms consistent with the infection, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most of those sickened got better 12 hours after symptom onset, which is consistent with this infection. And while some students were treated at emergency rooms for dehydration, no one was hospitalized. Two isolates teated positive for the virus. The university has been deep cleaning and sanitizing the rooms of patients and all common or shared spaces in the residential facilities. While the outbreak ws ongoing, quarantine meal delivery was initiated so students could eat and avoid dehydration, one of thee common side effects of norovirus, while … [Read more...]
Gastrointestinal Outbreak at Georgetown University in D.C.
A gastrointestinal outbreak at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. has sickened about a dozen students on the University's main campus, according to an update from the administration. Since early afternoon on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, individuals have symptoms including severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Those symptoms are consistent with several pathogens that cause food poisoning, including Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, norovirus, and Clostridium perfringens. The students are being treated and are receiving support and are recovering. The updates were sent to the Georgetown community via email from Ranit Mishori, M.D., MHS, FAAFP, Professor of Family Medicine, Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer. The school is coordinating with DC … [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...]
Washington Vibrio Outbreak Linked to Oysters From Samish Bay
A Washington Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak has sickened multiple people, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The outbreak is linked to oysters harvested in Samish Bay. The notice posted in the Shellfish Safety Map alert page says that there are multiple confirmed Vibrio illnesses. That bay is now closed to oyster harvesting. The closure period is for 21 days, but the closure may be extended if environmental test results of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) levels are in excess of 10 MPN/gram. The closure notice was posted on July 16, 2021. No one can harvest oysters in that Bay for the next 21 days, or when officials lift the closure. The number of cases "has already surpassed the highest number of cases ever recorded by … [Read more...]
Pure Eire Yogurt E. coli Outbreak Case Count Grows to 17
The Pure Eire yogurt E. coli outbreak case count has grown to 17, according to a new update by the Washington State Department of Health. One new case from Arizona, who has been infected with the outbreak strain, has been identified. All three of the Arizona cases are considered secondary infections. According to the patient age range chart, the new case is between the ages of 10 and 19. The outbreak case count by county in Washington is: Benton (1), Clark (1), King (9), Snohomish (2), and Walla Walla (1). Three cases are in Yavapai county in Arizona. The patient age range is 0 to nine years (10), 10 to 19 years (3), 20 to 29 years (1), 30 to 39 years (1), and 70 to 79 years (1). Four patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and ten patients … [Read more...]
Yogurt E. coli Outbreak: What is a Secondary Food Poisoning Infection?
In the Pure Eire yogurt E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people in Washington and Arizona, some of the patients have contracted secondary food poisoning infections. This term may not be familiar to everyone. So what is this type of infection? A secondary food poisoning infection occurs when someone gets sick from contact with another person, not by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Many pathogens can be spread person-to-person, by direct contact and common contact with fomites (surfaces), both through the fecal-oral route. In the Pure Eire yogurt E. coli outbreak, for instance, two children in Arizona are sick with the outbreak strain, but neither consumed the recalled yogurt. Instead, they contracted this infection after having close contact … [Read more...]
Organic Yogurt E. coli Outbreak Expands, Investigation Continues
An E. coli outbreak linked to organic yogurt sold under the brand names Pure Eire and PCC Market now includes 16 cases, a spokesperson told Food Poisoning Bulletin today. Most of the people sickened are children. Ten people have been hospitalized, and four have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure associated with E. coli infections. The organic yogurt E. coli outbreak includes 14 cases in Washington and two cases in Arizona. Both cases in Arizona are considered secondary infections, meaning the Arizona patients did not eat the yogurt but were in close contact with a visitor from Wahington who did. The grass-fed, organic yogurt associated with the outbreak is produced by Pure Eire Dairy of Othello, WA and sold under the brand names Pure Eire and PCC … [Read more...]