Category Archives: foodbourne outbreak

USA – Kansas: Trade Winds Bar & Grill Under Investigation for Campylobacter Outbreak

Posted on August 21, 2023 by | Leave a comment

 

 

Outbreak News Today

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is investigating an outbreak of Campylobacteriosis linked to the Trade Winds Bar & Grill in Garnett, Kansas. Symptoms of Campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. 

To help KDHE in their investigation, KDHE asks anyone who visited Trade Wind Bar & Grill between July 14 and August 9 and then experienced these Campylobacter symptoms to complete a confidential survey.

The Trade Wind Bar & Grill closed on August 9th and remained closed until August 15th. 

People with Campylobacter infection usually have diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea. These symptoms usually start two to five days after the person ingests Campylobacter and last about one week. In some cases, individuals can develop more serious complications.

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Posted in Campylobacter, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

USA – Norovirus outbreak that sickened more than 300 people linked to an ill food handler at restaurant

Posted on August 21, 2023 by | Leave a comment

ABC News

The source behind a norovirus outbreak that sickened a few hundred people last year has been identified, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report looked at the outbreak in Tazewell County, Illinois, which includes part of Peoria, which saw 317 people fall ill, all of whom dined at a restaurant — referred to as restaurant A — between Nov. 19, and Nov. 26, 2022.

Investigators with the Tazewell Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health concluded the outbreak was likely caused by a sick food handler at the restaurant who had ungloved contact with salad, toppings and dressings during food preparation.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food handler, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hand Washing, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Norovirus, outbreak

USA – FDA – Core Investigation Table

Posted on August 10, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1172) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. There are two cases in this outbreak. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1171), the case count has increased from 47 to 55 cases.
  • For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1166), the outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation has closed.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), the case count has increased from 36 to 37 cases.

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Posted in Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Salmonella

Taiwan – Victims of banh mi food poisoning in northern Taiwan reach 520

Posted on August 10, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Taiwan News

As of 10 p.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 8), the incident had sickened 520 people, with 41 hospitalized. The Food and Drug Administration will mount an inspection campaign targeting stalls and eateries selling exotic cuisines.

Among those feeling unwell after consuming food from the stall, 354 sought medical help and 32 were hospitalized, as of Monday (Aug. 7). Symptoms reported include diarrhea, stomach pain and cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

A task force has been formed to deal with the case, said the Department of Public Health of the northern city in Taiwan.

A preliminary investigation found seven out of 21 samples from the stall tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. More examinations are being conducted to identify the source of infection.

Inspectors said the eggs used to make mayonnaise had not been fully cleaned and the mayo products prepared in advance were not properly refrigerated when delivered to the stall. Salmonella infections have been a major cause of food poisoning events in Taiwan over recent years, according to the health agency.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella, Salmonella in Eggs

One dead and six in hospital after mystery E.coli outbreak in UK

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

GB News

An E.Coli outbreak in the UK has killed one and hospitalised six others, with health officials left puzzled at the source.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reportedly working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to determine what started the outbreak, which is believed to have begun in May.

24 cases of the illness have been reported since May, including 19 in England and 4 in Northern Ireland, according to Food Safety News.

“The outbreak’s source has not yet been identified, but we are working with partners, including the Food Standards Agency, to investigate,” she added.

The strain circulating currently, is the O183, a very rare strain of E.Coli, with only 15 reported cases in the UK since 2016.

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Posted in E.coli O183, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, fsa, HUS, Illness, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli, UKHSA

Wales – Wrexham: 25 salmonella cases linked to single venue

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Leader Live

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Public Health Wales (PHW) launched an investigation last week alongside Wrexham Council and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to find the source of the outbreak.

A multi-agency Outbreak Control Team (OCT) made up of the three organisations was set up.

And PHW has issued an update in relation to the investigation.

“We are currently investigating 25 confirmed and 4 probable cases of salmonella associated with a single venue in the city.” The venue has not yet been named

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

Norway – Outbreak of E. coli (EHEC infection)

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Matportalen

This outbreak is caused by a different EHEC bacterium than the outbreak reported in June. FHI has started an outbreak investigation together with relevant municipal chief medical officers, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute. All the infected fell ill in July and none of them have traveled abroad.

The infected are aged < 5 to 45 years, and live in Trøndelag (4), Viken and Vestfold and Telemark. Two of them have developed the serious complication haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In addition, a further HUS case has been notified where EHEC has been detected, but we are awaiting more analyzes before we can say whether the person is infected with the same strain of bacteria as the other cases. It is not yet known what the source of infection is, but it is common for gastrointestinal bacteria to become infected through food.

– At the present time, we cannot say whether this is a limited outbreak or whether there may be new cases, says Silje Bruland Lavoll, senior physician in the section for infection from food, water and animals at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Investigative work can be complicated and take time, and in many cases we are unable to find the source of infection or to clarify whether it is a common source.

– We follow the situation closely and work closely with the municipal health service, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute, she adds.

– The Norwegian Food Safety Authority assists the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and municipal chief physicians in obtaining information from the sick persons and their relatives. Interviews are conducted about what the people have eaten and what they have been in contact with, says senior advisor Turid Berglund in the biological food safety section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Preliminary analyzes show that it is the bacterium EHEC O26:H11, which has been detected in all those infected. FHI is now working on further analyzes (whole genome sequencing) to confirm this.

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Posted in E.coli, EHEC, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, HUS, Illness, Matportalen, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli

Afghanistan – 200 people suffer food poisoning in E. Afghanistan

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Asia Pacific

KHOST, Afghanistan, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) — At least 200 people were sickened in food poisoning in east Afghanistan’s Khost province, an official said on Monday.

The incident occurred in Satkai village of Zazai Maidan district on Sunday evening when the villagers attended a charity meal, and all the victims had been taken to nearby hospitals and clinics, said provincial police spokesman Mustaghfar Garbaz.

Without providing more details, the official added that further investigations were underway.

In the meantime, villager and eyewitness Tahir Azimi claimed that around 400 people were sick with the charity meal.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

USA – Irrigation water likely link in Utah E. coli Outbreak

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

According to Utah health official and media, in the last two weeks, eight cases of E. coli (likely a shiga-toxin producing E. coli like E. coli O157:H7) were reported in Utah County residents, with at least five of the subjects hospitalized (likely with hemolytic uremic syndrome – HUS) due to the severity of symptoms.

Currently, all reported cases are residents of Lehi or have close ties to the city, says a statement from the Utah County Health Department.

Epidemiologists are working to identify the source of infection, it says. Preliminary investigation links the likely source of spread to using pressurized irrigation water for drinking and play.

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Posted in Contaminated water, E.coli, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Taiwan – 340 people fall ill from suspected food poisoning in Taoyuan

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) A Vietnamese-French sandwich stand at a traditional market in Taoyuan’s Zhongli District was forced to suspend operations Friday, after scores of its customers reported illnesses from suspected food poisoning, according to local authorities.

An inspection of the street vendor’s premises on Thursday identified 14 issues, including the temperature of the freezer, which was too high to keep food fresh, according to a press release from the city’s Department of Public Health on Friday.

In addition, there were vectors at the site, and the food ingredients were not properly covered or elevated above ground, the public health office said.

As of noon Saturday, 340 people had reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and fever after eating sandwiches purchased at the stand on Wednesday, the department said, citing reports it had received from hospitals and individuals.

The department’s inspectors have collected samples of the sauces, fillings, and other food items at the Vietnamese-French sandwich stand, as well as knives, cutting boards, and other kitchenware, which will be tested to determine the cause of the suspected food poisoning, the health office said.

If pathogenic microorganisms are found and the matter is confirmed as a food poisoning case, the operators of the food stand may be subject to a fine of between NT$60,000 (US$1,894) and NT$200 million, in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, the office said.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak