A norovirus outbreak associated with the Mazatlan restaurant in Auburn, Washington has sickened at least 13 people. No one has ben hospitalized, according to the Seattle-King County Health Department. An investigation is in progress. The restaurant is located at 110 Cross Street SouthEast in Auburn. The meal date of those sickened was May 21, 2021. The health department is characterizing the illness as "norovirus-like," with typical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and chills. Officials have not yet identified how norovirus was spread within the restaurant. The virus is very contagious and can spread person-to-person, through contact with fomites (hard surfaces), and through contaminated food and drink. The thirteen ill persons were from one meal party. No ill … [Read more...]
Pure Eire Yogurt E. coli Outbreak Sickens 15 in Washington and Arizona
The Pure Eire Yogurt E. coli outbreak has now sickened 15 people in Washington state and Arizona, according to an update by the Washington Department of Health. Nine people have been hospitalized, which is double the usual percentage for an E. coli outbreak, and four patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a kind of kidney failure. The Washington DOH is one;y reporting cases that have been genetically linked. Local health departments may report higher numbers that may include cases that are till under investigation. The case count by county in Washington state is: Benton (1), Clark (1), King (9), Snohomish (2), Walla Walla (1), and one case in Yavapai in Arizona. The Arizona patient was likely a secondary infection, meaning the person sickened was probably made … [Read more...]
PCC Market Yogurt by Pure Eire Dairy Linked to Washington E. coli Outbreak
PCC Market Yogurt by Pure Eire Dairy is linked to a multi county E .coli O157:H7 outbreak in Washington state, according to a news release issued by the Washington State Department of Health. Both PCC Market and Pure Eire yogurt have been recalled. Pure Eire Dairy is working with the state Department of Agriculture to identify and recall all affected products. The outbreak now includes 11 confirmed cases that have been genetically linked, including six children who are under the age of 10. Seven people have been hospitalized. Three people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a kind of kidney failure. The state patient case count by county is: Benton (1), King (8), Snohomish (1), and Walla Walla (1). The Department of Heath is continuing to gather case … [Read more...]
Pure Eire Dairy Yogurt Recalled In Association with Washington E. coli Outbreak
According to a notice on its Facebook page, Pure Éire Dairy, located in Washington state, is recalling Pure Eire Dairy yogurt because it may be associated with the Washington E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least eleven people in four counties. In an email, the Washington State Department of Health has identified the outbreak as "likely linked" to PCC Community Market brand yogurt that is produced by Pure Eire Dairy. According to that Facebook post, 12 hours ago the Washington State Department of Agriculture pulled 12 random yogurt samples from store shelves and all have come back negative for E. coli bacteria. Often in outbreaks, food that has made people sick may have been used or discarded by the time that officials start investigations and testing. The recalled … [Read more...]
Washington E. coli Outbreak Spreads to Four Counties, at Least Six Sick
The Washington E. coli outbreak has now spread to four counties with at least six confirmed cases, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). This E. coli O157:H7 outbreak may be linked to fresh produce. The official case count stands at six, even though the individual county health departments are reporting higher totals. King County says it has seven cases, while Snohomish County claims two. Benton and Walla Walla Counties claim four patients, for a total of 13 patients. The difference is that the Washington DOH only reports confirmed cases infected with E. coli O157:H7 that have been genetically linked, while the cases the counties are reporting may still be under investigation. In the official state case count, there is one case between the ages of 0 and 9, … [Read more...]
Two E. coli Cases in Snohomish County, Washington Added to King County
Two E. coli cases in Snohomish County, Washington state, have been identified, according to a press release from the Snohomish Health District. These cases, in a 20-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child, are apparently connected to the seven children who are sick with Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections in King County, Washington. The child has been hospitalized, but no further information about him or her has been shared with the public for patient privacy considerations. Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Information Officer for the Snohomish Health District, said in a statement, "The exact source of E. coli contamination can be difficult to pinpoint, but public health interviews lead us to believe the cases may be linked to eating fresh produce. While we continue working … [Read more...]
Seven Children Sick in Seattle E. coli Outbreak: Produce Possible Source
In the Seattle E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least seven children, officials now think that some type of produce is the source of the pathogen, according to Seattle King County Public Health. The case count has not changed. All cases are under the age of 15, with three under the age of five. Officials have identified "multiple types of fresh produce, mostly organic," in most of the cases but they cannot as of yet rule out other possibilities of the source of the illnesses. The notice states, "We are still uncertain if these cases share the same source of their infection or not." All of the children have symptoms consistent with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection, which include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that is often bloody. Two … [Read more...]
Seven Children Sick in E. coli Outbreak in King County, Washington State
According to a notice posted by the King County Public Health Department, there are seven children sick in an E. coli outbreak in King County. All are under the age of 14, and three children are under the age of five. Six of the children have been hospitalized. The source of the pathogen has not yet been determined. This new E. coli outbreak in King County has illness onset dates ranging from April 17, 2021 to April 29, 2021. The cases were reported to government officials between April 22, 2021 and May 1, 2021. The investigation is ongoing. Officials have not identified any restaurants, foods, or other sources in common among all of these cases. In fact, investigators do not know if the patients even share the same source of the pathogen. All seven children developed the … [Read more...]
Dungeness Valley Creamery Raw Milk Linked to WA Campylobacter Outbreak
A Washington Campylobacter outbreak is linked to Dungeness Valley Creamery raw milk, according to a news release by the Washington State Department of Health. Five lab-positive cases have been identified. The raw milk was purchased in Clallam, Skagit, Kitsap, and Clark Counties. We don't know the patient ages, illness onset dates, or whether anyone has been hospitalized. Dungeness Valley Creamery has issued a voluntary recall of all raw milk products with a Best Buy date of April 13, 2021 or earlier. These products may be contaminated with Campylobacter, which can cause serious illness. The recalled raw milk items are bottled in gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers. The raw milk was sold to customers in western Washington state in the company's on-farm store, outside … [Read more...]
Another Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Ends With 22 Sick
Another mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended with no source, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)> The FDA and USDA collected different types of dates but were unable to identify a food source of this multistate outbreak. The outbreak is over as of March 11, 2021. Last summer and fall, the CDC announced two other mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that sickened a total of 44 people, hospitalizing 18. The pathogen in one of those outbreaks was linked to bacteria that sickened people in a 2019 romaine lettuce outbreak. A total of 22 people in 7 states were sickened in this latest outbreak. The case count by state is: Arkansas (9), Maryland (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (6), Texas (1), Virginia (2), and Washington (2). Illness onset dates ranged … [Read more...]
