Category Archives: Food Illness

USA – Sheraton Atlanta Legionnaires’ disease: 11 confirmed, 55 probable outbreak cases

Posted on July 31, 2019 by KSW | 2 comments

Image CDC

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reports 11 lab-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease and 55 probable cases of Legionnaires’ disease related to this outbreak through July 29.

No deaths have been reported.

Probable cases are people who had illness consistent with Legionnaires’ disease, including pneumonia diagnosed by a clinician or chest X-ray, but without laboratory confirmation. The number of probable cases can change based on additional testing and lab results.

Since the first cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed two weeks ago, epidemiologists from DPH and Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) have been reviewing hundreds of survey responses from individuals who stayed at or visited the Sheraton Atlanta between June 12 and July 15, 2019. The surveys help identify people who may have been ill, especially those with severe illness like pneumonia.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Legionella, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Rock Garden Organic Basil Recalled For Possible Cyclospora

Posted on July 30, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Publix has posted this recall announcement on their website, regarding Rock Garden Organic Basil. The product is being recalled for possible cyclospora contamination. It was sold at Publix and GreenWise Market.

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Posted in Cyclospora, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Parasite, Uncategorized

USA – Publix recalls Rock Garden Organic Basil due to Cyclospora risk

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.

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Korea – Ministry warns against food poisoning, flesh-eating bacterial infection -Vibrio species

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Korea Herald

Image CDC

The Food Safety Ministry issued a warning Friday against food poisoning and flesh-eating infection associated with Vibrio bacteria, urging caution in beach-going and seafood consumption.

The ministry said infections of Vibrio bacteria, which thrive in warming waters, are most commonly reported from July to September.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes food poisoning and gastrointestinal illnesses, while vulnificus causes flesh-eating disease.

Two main routes of infection identified by the ministry are eating raw or undercooked seafood and exposing open wounds to contaminated waters.

Those with chronic liver diseases or a compromised immune system in particular are advised against eating or handling uncooked seafood and coming in contact with higher salinity waters.

Major symptoms of the bacterial infection include vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, chills and fever.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized, Vibrio, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificans, Vibrio vulnificus

Malaysia – EC apologises for food poisoning incident affecting Balik Pulau Polytechnic students

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Star – Online

BALIK PULAU: The Election Commission (EC) has extended its apologies to the 87 students who came down with food poisoning during a voter educational programme at the Balik Pulau Polytechnic on Wednesday (July 24).

EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun said the state Health Department was investigating the incident.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – CDC: Domestically acquired Cyclospora spikes to 580 ill

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

What’s the connection? Some clusters linked to restaurants and some clusters linked to basil.

The number of reported cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis has increased from the previous month and remains elevated in the United States since May 1, 2019.

As of July 23, 2019, 580 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported to CDC by 30 states, District of Columbia and New York City in people who became ill since May 1, 2019 and who had no history of international travel during the 14-day period before illness onset.The median illness onset date was June 24, 2019 (range: May 3—July 13, 2019).

At least 38 people were hospitalized; no deaths were reported.

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Research (USA) – Leafy Greens With Listeria Sold at Major Supermarkets

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Consumer Reports

A new Consumer Reports test of 284 samples of fresh greens—such as lettuce, spinach, and kale—found six samples tainted with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacteria. The samples were purchased at several grocery store chains including Acme, Costco, Hannaford, and Whole Foods.

Two of these samples were packaged, prewashed greens—a spinach and an organic spinach-spring mix. The other four were loose heads or bunches of green kale, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and spinach.

“While it may not be surprising to find listeria in a small percentage of leafy green products that are tested, it is always concerning to find bacteria that can make people sick in foods that aren’t meant to be cooked,” says Karen Wong, M.D., medical officer in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch.

CR’s study represents a snapshot of the market and was not large enough to draw conclusions about the safety of specific brands or retailers.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Minnesota Cyclospora Outbreak: Three Restaurants Named by MDH

Posted on July 29, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Minnesota Department of Health has identified 35 lab-confirmed cases of cyclospora that are associated with three Minnesota restaurants in different areas of the state. Basil is implicated in these illnesses, according to Doug Schultz, Information Officer for the DOH. This Minnesota cyclospora outbreak may be linked to the multistate cyclospora outbreak announced by the FDA yesterday, but we don’t know for sure. In the multi-state outbreak, 132 people in 11 states are sick.

This parasite is endemic to tropical and sub-tropical regions around the globe. People usually get sick when they visit those areas. But the parasite has made its way to the U.S. through contaminated produce. Previous outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, mesclun, cilantro, and basil.

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RASFF Alert -Foodborne Outbreak – Raw Milk Sheep Cheese – Salmonella

Posted on July 26, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by and Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in raw milk sheep’s cheese from France in France