Category Archives: foodborne disease

USA – More than 70 cases of foodborne illness reported in Hidalgo County

The Monitor cyclo

EDINBURG — Hidalgo County health officials are warning residents about the growing number of parasites found in leafy vegetables that could cause medical concerns for vulnerable populations.

More than 70 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported to the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services office, chief administrative officer Eddie Olivarez said Monday.

“It’s a public health concern we not only have in the Rio Grande Valley, but in the state of Texas, and even throughout the nation,” Olivarez said. “We’ve had over 70 cases in Hidalgo County; over 300 cases in the state of Texas and there’s over 1,200 cases in the United States. So much so, that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is concerned about it and putting out alerts in reference to this particular parasite.”

 

Spain – Listeria outbreak hits Spain, Most in Andalusia – Pork Meatloaf

Outbreak News Today Products from La Mechá that have been taken off the market.

An outbreak of listeriosis in Spain has sickened about 155 people to date, killing one, according to the health authorities. The Spanish Health Ministry said it was looking into another 523 suspected cases.

The outbreak has primarily affected Andalusia in the Seville region; however, cases have also been recorded in Asturias, Extremadura, Madrid, Catalonia and Aragon.

Unfortunately, a 90-year-old Andalusia woman has become the first fatal victim.

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has already warned about a roasted meat product of the brand “La Mechá” made by Magrudis SL not to consume it.

El Pais

An outbreak of listeriosis in Spain caused by meat produced by a firm in the southern Spanish province of Seville is now having international repercussions. The country’s Health Ministry has activated alert and communication systems with the European authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) “given the possibility that cases might be detected in other countries.” The move, according to ministerial sources, is a precaution in case any tourists visiting the country may have contracted the infection after consuming contaminated products in Spain. So far there have been no registered cases outside of the country.

The current outbreak of the bacterial infection has its source in pork meatloaf – known in Spanish as ‘carne mechada’

The current outbreak of the bacterial infection has its source in pork meatloaf – known in Spanish as carne mechada – sold under the brand name La Mechá, and produced by the Seville-based company Magrudis S.L.

A total of 53 people – including 23 pregnant women – are currently hospitalized in Andalusia due to the bacterial infection, three of whom are in intensive care. So far, one person has died from the outbreak: a 90-year-old woman who passed away in the early hours of Monday in a Seville hospital.

USA – Nearly 600 sickened by Cyclospora since May – over 200 by Mexican Basil

Food Poison Journal

The number of reported cases of domestically acquired illnesses caused by cyclospora 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.

At this time, multiple clusters of cases associated with different restaurants or events are being investigated by state public health authorities, CDC, and FDA.

One multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections has been linked to fresh basil imported from Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico . It is unknown at this time if other reported cases of Cyclospora infection in the United States this season are linked to fresh basil.

USA – Basil Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened 205 in 11 States

Food Poisoning Bulletin Cyclospora_LifeCycle201

The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That’s an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019.

Research – A Bacteriophage Cocktail Eliminates Salmonella Typhimurium from the Human Colonic Microbiome while Preserving Cytokine Signaling and Preventing Attachment to and Invasion of Human Cells by Salmonella In Vitro

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Nontyphoidal Salmonella strains continue to be a major cause of foodborne illness globally. One intriguing approach to reducing the risk of salmonellosis is the direct ingestion of phages targeting Salmonella to enhance natural gut resilience and provide protection during foodborne disease outbreaks. We evaluated the ability of a prophylactically administered bacteriophage cocktail, the foodborne outbreak pill (FOP) targeting Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella, to resolve a Salmonella infection in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME), a simulated gut platform populated by the human intestinal microbiome of healthy donors. The FOP preparation eliminated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium from the colon compartment of the SHIME platform but health-associated metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and lactate, remained stable or increased in a donor-dependent manner. In studies of human intestinal cells, pretreatment of Salmonella Typhimurium with the FOP cocktail preserved lipopolysaccharide-stimulated signaling in a Caco-2–THP-1 Transwell system and prevented destruction of the Caco-2 monolayer by Salmonella. Adhesion and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells by Salmonella—a critical factor in Salmonella pathogenesis—was blunted when the bacteria were incubated with the FOP preparation before addition to the monolayer. The FOP phage cocktail was effective for (i) eliminating Salmonella from a simulated human gut without disturbing the indigenous microbiota and (ii) reducing the risk of invasion by Salmonella into the intestinal epithelia. These results suggest that the FOP preparation may be of value for reducing the risk of salmonellosis in humans, e.g., during foodborne disease outbreaks.

Ireland -Outbreak in Ireland tied to Romanian pork; other countries report illnesses

Food Safety News

Eight people are part of a Salmonella outbreak in Ireland linked to pork from Romania. Five of them were admitted to hospitals. Infected people also have been identified in other countries.

One person was sickened by Salmonella Bredeney in August 2018. The other seven people fell ill between May 4 and June 3, this year. Those stricken are six adult males and two children who are siblings. There have not been any deaths.

Pork product recall

Andromi Toba de Casa was recalled last month

In mid-July, Andromi Toba de Casa 500-gram packages with a use-by date of Aug. 4 and with the lot number 17 from Romania were recalled because of the presence of Salmonella. The chilled cooked pork preparation is sold in Polonez stores throughout Ireland.

Research – Ten years of molecular epidemiology surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes in Chile 2008–2017.

Science Direct

Highlights

Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging foodborne pathogen in Chile.

Serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 4b were the most frequently detected in food products.

Some L. monocytogenes clonal populations are persistent and widespread in foods.

Genomic diversity of this pathogen in foods is considerable and change over time.

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes causes severe diseases in humans, including febrile gastroenteritis and systemic infections that has a high mortality despite antibiotic treatment. This pathogen may cause massive outbreaks associated to the consumption of contaminated food products, which highlight its importance in public health. In the last decade, L. monocytogenes has emerged as a foodborne pathogen of major importance in Chile. A previous work showed that in Chile during 2008 and 2009, L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 4b were the most frequently identified in food and clinical strains. Here we report the molecular characterization of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from 2008 to 2017 in the country. Our results indicate that serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 4b continue to be the most commonly found in food products. In addition, we identify persistent and widespread PFGE subtypes. This study reports ten years of epidemiological surveillance of L. monocytogenes in Chile.

Australia – Gippsland Jersey — Gippsland Jersey Full Cream Milk 2L and Gippsland Jersey Light Milk 2L – Recall – Not Pasteurised

Product Safety Australia

Photograph of Gippsland Jersey milks

Identifying features

Use by date
29 July 2019
Other
APN/EAN 9351328000014 (full cream) and 9351328000007 (light)

What are the defects?

The recall is due to a processing error associated with pasteurisation.

What are the hazards?

Milk that is not pasteurised according to the standard may be associated with food-borne illness and decreased shelf life.

Australia – Gippsland Jersey 2Lt Full Cream and Light Milk – Pasteurisation Issues

FSANZ

Product information

Gippsland Jersey is conducting a recall of Gippsland Jersey Full Cream and Light Milk 2 Litre Bottles. The product has been available for sale at various retail stores including some Woolworths, IGA, Foodworks, convenience stores and corner stores in Victoria.

Date markings

Gippsland Jersey Full Cream Milk Batch 1907033 Use by 29/07/2019
Gippsland Jersey Light Milk Batch 1907034 Use by 29/07/2019

Gippsland Jersey milks

Problem

The recall is due to a processing failure associated with pasteurization.

Food safety hazard

Milk that is not pasteurized according to the standard may be associated with food borne illness and decreased shelf life.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Do not consume the product. Customers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full cash refund. We apologise for any inconvenience.

For further information please contact:

For further information contact Gippsland Jersey 0412 359 713 hello@gippslandjersey.com.au https://gippslandjersey.com.au/

Philippines – Hundreds hospitalized with suspected food poisoning during Marco’s birthday party

Outbreak News Today

More than 300 people have been hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning during the 90th birthday celebration of Imelda R. Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, according to Philippines news sources.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, 306 are still admitted in the hospital. He went on to say that 149 have been discharged while the rest are still under observation or admitted in the hospital.

The patients “suffered from vomiting and dizziness,” said Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, which deployed emergency teams to the Ynares Sports Complex east of Manila where the party was held.

Mr. Gordon, who is also a Philippine senator, said hundreds of the estimated 2,000 people at the event apparently became ill after eating chicken adobo, rice and eggs.