Monthly Archives: January 2018

Outbreak News

In a follow-up to the multidrug-resistant Campylobacter outbreak linked to contact with puppies sold through Petland stores, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday that the investigation is over. The last illness began on January 7, 2018.

total of 113 people with laboratory-confirmed infections or symptoms consistent with Campylobacter infection from 17 state were the final numbers reported, this is up 16 cases since last month.Ohio, Florida and Illinois all reported double digit number of cases.

However, officials also note that illnesses could continue to occur because people may be unaware of the risk of Campylobacter infections from puppies and dogs.

Outbreak News Today 

Iowa health officials say that norovirus is behind several outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness in recent weeks across the state prompted officials to advise the public to stay home if ill, not prepare food and wash hands.

Anyone with diarrhea or vomiting should not be handling any food items, regardless of how well they wash their hands,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “That rule is important no matter if you’re cooking for two or 200, whether it’s a regular family meal or at a restaurant.” Anyone with symptoms of norovirus should stay home from school, daycare, work or other events to help stop the spread to others. It’s also important that anyone who has been sick with symptoms of norovirus not prepare food for others for two days after their symptoms have gone away, since this virus can spread even after you start feeling better.

The Hindu

As many as 20 students were admitted to government community hospital in Itchapuram on Monday due to food poisoning in the early hours of Monday.

The students of BC welfare hostel of Bellupada village suffered from vomiting and other problems after reportedly having meal in a local function. With the absence of warden, other students struggled to take them to the hospital. Senior doctor Srinivasa Rao provided first-aid and said they were out of danger. Parents rushed to the hospital and enquired about their condition. They sought action against the warden and other staff.

Xinhuanet

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) — The number of students and teachers who suffered from food poisoning in a middle school in Khabarovsk in the Far East of Russia has risen to 113, local authorities said in a statement Tuesday.

The patients have shown symptoms of intestinal infection. The mass food poisoning, which started Friday, was caused by consumption of spoiled salads, Rospotrebnadzor, the local branch of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, said on its website.

“The number of victims has reached 113, seven of whom are adults, while the rest are children. Severity of the disease is between mild and moderate,” said Rospotrebnadzor.

The results of a basic epidemiological investigation showed that there were numerous violations of the norms of sanitary legislation, added Rospotrebnadzor.

Straits Times

SINGAPORE – The National Environment Agency (NEA) demoted the food hygiene grades of Michelin-starred Summer Palace and the Regent Singapore’s banquet kitchen from “A” grade to “C” from Monday (Jan 29), after 43 patrons were suspected of getting food poisoning from a wedding lunch at the hotel.

In an advisory issued on Monday, NEA said that the people had stomach flu symptoms after eating food at both places on Nov 11 last year.

Replying to queries from The Straits Times, a Regent Singapore spokesman said that all 43 cases were not from guests dining in Summer Palace, but instead from a lunch wedding banquet held at the hotel that day.

The Times

Cheese produced by a company linked to an E. coli outbreak that killed a three-year-old child did not present a significant risk to health, a court was told.

Richard North, a food safety consultant, said evidence relied upon to show that Errington Cheese’s products contained harmful levels of the bacteria was “flawed”.

The company was linked to a food poisoning outbreak in 2016 in which the girl from Dunbartonshire died and several other consumers were made ill.

Ask Bio Expert 

For years we have been told by the scientific community that hand washing is a key factor in preventing disease.  Since childhood, we have been educated by our parents to wash our hands whenever we may be exposed to microorganisms.  We regularly wash our hands before meals, after touching dirty surfaces, after petting animals, and of course after touching sick individuals. Nowadays microbiologists and physicians are regularly appearing in the media to educate the public about the importance of hand washing for the prevention of foodborne and airborne diseases.

While the arguments for hands washing do make sense, especially after considering the enormous scientific knowledge and accumulated data about diseases, it is still not clear that these precautions are definitely helping in actually preventing their spread. 

BBC News  

It is a stomach bug known to afflict some backpackers with bouts of uncomfortable diarrhoea.

Now scientists say they have discovered how the parasites that cause giardiasis – one of the world’s most common gastric diseases – make people ill.

Giardia parasites mimic human cell functions to break apart cells in the gut and feed inside, researchers found.

This also allows bacteria already present in the body to join in and feed from the same nutrients, they said.

Some 500,000 cases of giardiasis are diagnosed each year, with people typically picking up the disease by drinking infected water or contaminated food.

Symptoms include severe diarrhoea, stomach pains, bloating, flatulence and fatigue and can last weeks or months without treatment.

Although it is found throughout the world, it is most prevalent in developing countries and is one of the most common gastric diseases caught by backpackers.

But although scientists have known of giardia’s existence for hundreds of years, until now it remained unclear how it makes people sick.

Its not Canada’s week for recalls!

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 29, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on January 28, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Thai Indochine Trading Inc. is recalling Coconut Tree brand Shredded Young Coconut from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 29, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on January 26, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Rajthani Sweets & Restaurants is recalling Bhugga from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The recalled product has been sold at the following Rajthani Sweets & Restaurants locations:

• 2260 Bovaird Dr. E #106, Brampton, ON
• 811 Bovaird Dr. W #106, Brampton, ON
• 2658 Islington Ave., Etobicoke, ON

Consumers who are unsure if they have affected product are advised to check with their retailer.