Why Were Red Onions Contaminated with Salmonella? FDA May Know
In the 2020 Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to red onions, more than 1600 people were sickened in the U.S. and Canada, with 1,127 sickened in the United States alone. Red onions from Thomson International were the likely source of this outbreak, although the government could not identify a conclusive root source of the contamination. Why were red onions contaminated with Salmonella?
This was the largest Salmonella outbreak in over a decade in the United States. The FDA has released a report which may supply some answers about why this outbreak happened
So why were red onions contaminated with Salmonella bacteria? There were several potential contributing factors that may have caused the contamination. They include potentially contaminated source of irrigation water; sheep grazing on adjacent land; signs of animal intrusion, including scat and large flocks of birds; and food contact surfaces that had not been inspect
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 with our partners on this investigation, it’s an important reminder to always wash produce items well before eating them, to avoi
It’s the Cashews: Seven Sick in Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
It’s the cashews. Seven people are sick in the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak, according to a new update posted today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an addition of two more patients since the last update in April. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And a new strain, Salmonella Urbana, has been added to the original outbreak strain of Salmonella Duisburg. Two people identified in this outbreak are sick with Salmonella Urbana infections.
The case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 23 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from January 31, 2021 to April 8, 2021. But the true number of people sickened in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported so far, because many people do not seek medical care when they contract this infection and are not diagnosed.
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.
Real Water Hepatitis Outbreak Increases to 11 Sick and 1 Probable Case
The Real Water hepatitis outbreak has increased to 11 people sick and 1 probable case, according to an update from the FDA. This is a non-viral hepatitis outbreak, which means that particular brand of alkalized water may have caused liver inflammation. This outbreak is not caused by the contagious hepatitis virus. The one probable case meets the case definition but has not been tested for viral hepatitis to rule that out.
There are three kinds of non-viral hepatitis. The first is caused by consuming too much alcohol; the second is an auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks the liver; and the third is caused by chemicals, prescription and non-prescription medications, and nutritional supplements.