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.
Posted in Cyclospora, food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Parasite, Protozoan, Uncategorized
| ABSTRACT |
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Population-based case-control studies are a time- and labor-intensive component of foodborne outbreak investigations. One alternative is a binomial trial that asks the question “if the likelihood of each case’s having eaten a given food is no different from that of the average person in the population, how often would we find, by chance alone, that x of n (or more) cases would have eaten this food?” Calculating a binomial trial requires background exposure data. We conducted case-control studies and binomial trials in two foodborne outbreaks and compared results. In both outbreaks, using binomial trials we found much less than a 5% probability that the number of cases eating the suspected food vehicle would have occurred by chance. These results were comparable with results of the case-control studies, but with considerably less effort. When background exposure data are available, binomial trials are an efficient way to explore hypotheses that can be further tested by traceback efforts to identify a common source.
| HIGHLIGHTS |
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Population-based case-control studies are time- and labor-intensive.
Binomial trials of case exposures produce similar results with less effort.
Calculating a binomial trial requires background exposure data.
Binomial associations require product tracebacks to identify a common source.
On July 25, the FDA announced an investigation into a Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported fresh basil by Siga Logistics from Mexico. Siga
The FDA is recommending consumers not to buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics and not to consume or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may contain basil from Mexico.
Cyclospora is a parasite composed of one cell, too small to be seen without a microscope.
RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis in eggs from Poland in Austria
Posted in food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized
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
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.
Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized
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.
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.
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
Posted in food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, RASFF, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, Salmonella, Uncategorized
Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos, Mexico to the United States.
The fresh basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico is the subject of a multi-state outbreak investigation of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.
As of July 9, health official found 132 illnesses in ten states that are attributed to the outbreak. Four patients required hospitalization. Restaurants in Florida, Minnesota, New York and Ohio exposed patrons to the parasite.
Cyclospora is a parasite typically transmitted by contaminated food. Some areas, such as Massachusetts, are this year experiencing higher Cyclosproa case counts than normal. States with Cyclospora cases associated with the current outbreak are found in CT, FL, IA, MA, MN, NY, OH, RI, SC, and WI.
Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
A foodborne illness outbreak is being investigated by the Rivne OLC of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Between July 15-18, 84 acute gastrointestinal disease cases were reported, including 52 cases in Zdolbunivskyi District. 61 people required hospitalization, including children.
Preliminary results in the investigation links the illnesses to the consumption of dishes at the celebration of the wedding and birthdays from July 13 and 14 at the cafe “Gourmet” in the Mizoch village.
Health officials urge individuals who have eaten or purchased food from the Masonic Snow Lodge fundraiser Barbecue held Friday, July 19th at 240 Temple Dr, Boone, NC 28607, to monitor for any gastrointestinal symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. There have been eight laboratory confirmed cases of a foodborne illness and a number of others who have presented with similar symptoms of gastrointestinal complaints who all ate at the Barbecue fundraiser.
“We do not have a confirmed source of the illness but are actively conducting a thorough investigation to determine it with support from the NC Division of Public Health, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, Watauga County Emergency Management and the Masonic Lodge. Any purchased food should be thrown away and not eaten since there is a risk it could be contaminated,” said Jennifer Greene, Health Director.
FoodWorld 