The FDA Commissioner tweeted a comment yesterday on the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak in the United States that may be linked to romaine lettuce. He said "Illness onsets among reported cases occurred in late November and early December, so the source of these cases likely is no longer on the market." Romaine lettuce has a shelf life of about a few days to more than a week. The heads have a shelf life of 7 to 10 days, while chopped or leaf lettuce products have a shelf life of 3 to 5 days. While the lettuce that may have caused the illnesses is no longer on the market, we do not know where the products were sold, or where the leafy green was grown, harvested, or processed. There is an outbreak in Canada that is linked to romaine lettuce. At least 41 people were sickened in … [Read more...]
FDA Commissioner Comments on Deadly E. coli O57:H7 HUS Outbreak That May Be Linked to Romaine Lettuce
Caldwell Parish Outbreak Caused by Salmonella and Clostridium Perfringens
According to news reports, the food poisoning outbreak in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana has been caused by both Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. At least 125 people are sick now, up from 50 yesterday. And thirty-seven people have been hospitalized because their symptoms are so severe. One man who attended the fundraiser and allegedly ate the jambalaya at the center of this outbreak has died. But officials do not know if his death is linked to this outbreak and have requested an autopsy. Clostridium perfringens bacteria grow and produce a toxin when the temperatures of food are in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F. These outbreaks happen often when large amounts of food are prepared. The food may be held at the wrong temperature for a long period of time, or it may be … [Read more...]
Deadly Papaya Salmonella Outbreak Has Sickened 141
The deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to imported Maradol papayas has now sickened at least 141 people in 19 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty two more ill people from 15 states have been added to the investigation since the last update last Friday. Three more states have now reported patents: Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. The case count by state is: Connecticut (5), Delaware (4), Iowa (2), Illinois (2), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (6), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (27) New York (39), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (4), Pennsylvania (8), Texas (7), Virginia (14), and Wisconsin (1). Forty-five ill persons have been hospitalized. One death was reported from New York … [Read more...]
Elizabethkingia Bacteria Sickens 44 and Kills 18 in Wisconsin
Since November of 2015, there have been 44 bloodstream infections caused by Elizabethkingia anophelis bacteria reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH). Of the 44, 18 have died. Case patients reside in Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sauk, Washington and Waukesha counties. These laboratory-confirmed illnesses were reported to DHS between November 1, 2015 and March 2, 2016. Because this investigation is ongoing, case counts may change as additional illnesses are identified and more cases are confirmed. Most of the people sickened in this outbreak are over the age of 65, and all are patients with a history of at least one underlying serious illness. At this time, the source of these … [Read more...]
E. coli Wrongful Death Takes Community Volunteer in Alabama
The Alabama E. coli death of a 71-year-old man who served as a volunteer in his community is at the center of a food poisoning outbreak in Morgan County that remains under investigation. The E. coli infections have been associated with a luncheon hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES). The Alabama Department of Public Health has promised to release a summary of its investigation when the outbreak report is final. The deceased man, Clarence Hampton, was a senior companion volunteer for the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama in Decatur. The leader of that organization, Chief Executive Officer Michael Tubbs, has said that at least 24 employees and volunteers of the group fell sick after the luncheon. Hampton's sister said she was one of the attendees who … [Read more...]
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleges Campylobacter Poisoning From Chicken
A Texas woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Bush's Chicken franchise in Killeen, TX after her husband contracted Campylobacter poisoning and died. The lawsuit, case number D-1-GN-14000041, was filed in District Court of Travis County, TX. According to the suit, on November 27, 2012, Angela Scurry and her late husband, Morris Scurry, purchased chicken strips at the drive-through window of Bush's Chicken located on 812 38th St. in Killeen. They ate some on the way home and finished the rest later that night. At 3:00 a.m. on November 28, Ms. Scurry awoke upon hearing her husband vomiting in the bathroom. He also had diarrhea. These symptoms persisted for three hours. Later that day, shortly after Mr. Scurry said the symptoms had returned, Ms. Scurry found her husband … [Read more...]
