Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

South Africa – Listeria Outbreak Update Report

Posted on May 6, 2018 by | Leave a comment

NICD

  1. HIGHLIGHTS

 Phase 1 of the listeriosis emergency response plan (ERP) to strengthen the response to the listeriosis outbreak has been completed. This includes development of the ERP, obtaining approval for the ERP, communication of the plan with provincial and district stakeholders, development of a risk-assessment tool to identify high-risk food production facilities for inspection, development of training material and checklists to support inspections of facilities, capacitation of NHLS food testing laboratories. These activities build on the response activities conducted before 9 April 2018, which include identification of the source, product recall and risk communication.

 A meeting to orient the provincial communications, environmental health and communicable disease authorities to the ERP was held on 24-25 April at NICD in Johannesburg. Agreement was reached on the role of the provinces and the next steps to implement the ERP.

 The number of cases of laboratory-confirmed listeriosis reported per week has decreased since the implicated products were recalled on 04 March 2018, with five additional cases reported this week (epidemiological week 15).

 As of 24 April 2018, a total of 1 024 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases have been reported to NICD since 01 January 2017. Since the recall 7 weeks ago, a total of 55 cases have been reported, whereas for the 7 weeks prior to the recall, 169 cases were reported. All cases that have been identified after the recall are being fully investigated.

  1. BACKGROUND

Prior to 2017, an average of 60 to 80 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases per year (approximately 1 per week), were reported in South Africa. In July 2017, an increase in laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis was reported to National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) which was followed by investigations into the reported increase. On 05 December 2017, the listeriosis outbreak was declared by the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi. The source of the outbreak was identified as ready-to-eat processed meat products

manufactured at Enterprise Foods’ Polokwane production facility. A recall of affected products was initiated on 04 March 2018.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, outbreak, south africa, Uncategorized

USA – Norovirus cases linked to raw British Columbia oysters: California health officials

Posted on May 4, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today Norwalk_Caspid

California health officials say raw oysters from British Columbia are linked to a recent outbreak of norovirus illnesses in the state, prompting warning for consumers to avoid eating raw oysters harvested from south and central Baynes Sound, in British Columbia, Canada.

In California, as of April 27, approximately 100 individuals have reported illness after they consumed raw British Columbian oysters sold by restaurants and retailers throughout the state. Laboratory testing has confirmed norovirus infection in several patients from both California and Canada. Although the number of reported new illnesses has decreased during the last week, the investigation is ongoing.

Canada has reported 172 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to consumption of raw oysters.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce

Posted on May 4, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CDC

What’s New?

  • Twenty-three more ill people from 10 states were added to this investigation since the last update on April 27, 2018. One death was reported from California.
  • Three more states have reported ill people: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Utah.
  • The most recent illness started on April 21, 2018. Illnesses that occurred in the last two to three weeks might not yet be reported because of the time between when a person becomes ill with E. coli and when the illness is reported to CDC.

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized

Canada – CFIA – FDA – Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on May 2, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and state and local partners, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Norovirus illnesses that are linked to oysters.

What is the Problem and What is being Done About It?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with federal, state, and local officials regarding a norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from British Columbia, Canada. The FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, were distributed to CA, IL, MA, and WA. It is possible that additional states received these oysters either directly from Canada or through further distribution within the U.S.

FDA and the states are conducting a traceforward investigation to determine where the raw oysters were distributed and ensure they’re removed from the food supply. Retailers should not serve raw oysters harvested from the following harvest locations (or landfiles) within Baynes Sound: #1402060, #1411206, #1400483, and #278757.

Oysters can cause food-related illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with noroviruses may look, smell, and taste normal.

CFIA

Public Health Notice — Ongoing outbreak of norovirus and gastrointestinal illnesses linked to raw oysters

April 27, 2018 – Update

This notice has been updated to include additional cases of illness associated with this outbreak. In the last week, the Public Health Agency of Canada has seen a decrease in the number of cases being reported to the outbreak investigation team which indicates the outbreak may be slowing. The outbreak investigation remains active and findings to date have identified that most people who became sick were infected after consuming oysters that were harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia. The investigation into a specific source of contamination impacting the shellfish farms in that area is ongoing.

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Posted in CFIA, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, Uncategorized

USA – FDA Identifies One Farm Where Some of the Romaine in E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Was Grown

Posted on May 1, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin Eurofins Food Testing UK

The FDA has identified one farm that grew some of the romaine lettuce linked to an E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that has sickened almost 100 people in 22 states. That facility is Harrison Farms of Yuma, Arizona. Lettuce grown there sickened inmates at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome, Alaska

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Russia – Salmonella outbreak sickens 21 at St. Petersburg school

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

A salmonella outbreak has sickened 21 students and staff at a St Petersburg school, according to a recent Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) report (computer translated).

The outbreak, primarily affecting children 4-6 years old,  occurred at the HBDUU kindergarten № 46 Pushkin district. Twenty-one people total were infected, including 17 children. 4 kids required hospitalization for their illness.

Officials immediately started a sanitary and epidemiological investigation. A survey of the staff of the HBDU Kindergarten No. 46 was conducted. Laboratory studies of food raw materials and food products were conducted.

During the investigation, gross violations of the requirements of the legislation in the field of sanitary and epidemiological well-being were revealed.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Canada- Canada Norovirus outbreak grows: 172 cases from three provinces

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today 

 

In a follow-up on the norovirus and gastrointestinal illness outbreak linked to raw oysters from British Columbia, Canadian health officials report 46 additional cases.

Currently, a total of 172 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to oyster consumption have been reported in three provinces: British Columbia (132), Alberta (15), and Ontario (25). No deaths have been reported.

Based on work conducted by the British Columbia CDC, local and federal agencies and the shellfish industry, four shellfish farms linked to illnesses have been closed. The investigation has identified that most people were infected after consuming oysters harvested in south and central Baynes Sound, BC.

The investigation into sources of contamination impacting the shellfish farms in south and central Baynes Sound is ongoing.

Oysters are a known risk for causing food-related illness if consumed as a raw product. Norovirus illnesses can be avoided if raw oysters are cooked to an internal temperature of 90° Celsius/194° Fahrenheit for a minimum of 90 seconds, and proper hand washing and food safety practices are followed.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 HUS Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grows to 98 Sick

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Lawsuits have been filed, as the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 HUS infection linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region has grown to include 98 sick. Three more states have reported ill persons: Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

E coli O 157-H7 HUS Romaine Lettuce Outbreak 42718

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA- Dairy Cows May Have Been Source of Unannounced Salmonella Newport Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef in 2016 – 2017

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin E.coli O157:H7

According to the Morbidity and Mortality Report of the week of April 20, 2018, the long outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that were linked to ground beef in 2016 and 2017 may have come from dairy cows. In that outbreak, 106 people in 21 states were sickened; 42 people were hospitalized, and one death occurred. This outbreak was not announced to the public at the time.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Safety, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Research, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Certain pork products recalled due to E. coli O157:H7

Posted on April 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, April 27, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on April 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.

Industry is recalling certain pork products from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Consumers should not consume and distributors, retailers and food service establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and cafeterias, should not sell or use the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Rimbey Foods Ltd. Sliced Pork Belly Variable Sold from February 19 up to and including April 27, 2018 Starts with 0 200118
Fuge Fine Meat Salchicha de Huacho Sausage 630 g All Best Before dates from May 3, 2018 up to and including May 26, 2018 None
Fuge Fine Meat Maple Sage Bratwurst Sausage 630 g All Best Before dates from May 3, 2018 up to and including May 26, 2018 None
Fuge Fine Meat DD Bratwurst Sausage 630 g All Best Before dates from May 3, 2018 up to and including May 26, 2018 None

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