Category Archives: Microbiology Investigations

USA – Persistent Strain of Salmonella Infantis (REPJFX01) Linked to Chicken

CDC

Foodborne Pathogen

REPJFX01

REPJFX01 is a persistent, multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Infantis bacteria that has caused illnesses and outbreaks in the United States and globally.

Illness caused by this strain was first reported to PulseNet in 2012. As of December 31, 2022, information from 2,900 patients with REPJFX01 infection was reported to PulseNet. The median age of patients was 54 years (interquartile range, 27–70 years), and 62% were female. The isolate source was stool in 65% and urine in 27% of cases. Illnesses caused by this strain occur year-round but are most common in July and August. In the past, REPJFX01 has spread to people through contaminated chicken in the United States and through exposures during international travel.

Among a subset of 251 patients with records in Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) during 2018–2020, 10% of patients traveled internationally in the 7 days before their illness began; most traveled to the Dominican Republic (45%), Peru (25%), or Ecuador (10%). Among the same subset of patients, 29% were hospitalized, 7% were admitted to the intensive care unit, and fewer than 1% died. Among 85 patients who received antibiotics recommended as first-line or alternative treatment for salmonellosis, 78% had an isolate that was resistant to that antibiotic.

This strain of Salmonella Infantis is relatively diverse genetically. Bacteria in the strain are within 82 allele differences of one another by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). This is more genetically diverse than typical multistate foodborne outbreaks, in which bacteria generally fall within 10 allele differences of one another.

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed – Mold/Mould- Wheat Bran Pellets

RASFF

Wheat bran pellets for animal feed with molds and moisture – Angola in Portugal

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Soya Meal Feed – Feed (Made of Chicken Products)

RASFF

Salmonella in soybean meal from Italy in Germany and Austria

RASFF

Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Enteritidis in frozen chicken products for feed in Poland and Latvia

EFSA – Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg ST14 infections possibly linked to cherry like tomatoes

EFSA

Abstract

Since August 2022 and as of 12 July 2023, 92 cases of Salmonella Senftenberg have been reported in Austria (5), Belgium (4), Czechia (4), Estonia (1), Finland (12), France (16), Germany (26), Ireland (1), the Netherlands (5), Norway (1), Sweden (11), the United Kingdom (4), and the United States (2). In total, 69.6% of the reported cases were female. One patient has died of the infection. The first case was reported in France with an isolation date of 22 August 2022 and the most recent case was reported on 24 June 2023 in Sweden. Most cases were reported between October 2022 and March 2023, with a decline in the number of countries with exposures after December. In Austria, Germany, and France, cherry-like tomatoes were identified as the food exposure most reported by interviewed cases. The outbreak strain was detected in France from a mixed salad dish, containing cherry tomatoes and green leafy vegetables, prepared on 17 August 2022 but not served. Tomatoes from the salad in France and tomatoes in Austria were suspected as the vehicle of infections by national authorities and were traced back to wholesalers in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, and to growers in the Netherlands, Spain and Morocco. In the absence of microbiological evidence from the tomatoes, the source of the infections could not be established. The genetic similarity of the human outbreak strains suggests a likely common source(s) causing a prolonged, cross-border food-borne outbreak with cases intermittently reported in 11 EU/EEA countries, the UK, and the US for about 10 months. The contamination may have originated from farms growing tomatoes. Since December 2022, as the number of cases has declined, the risk of new infections has decreased to a low level.

Sweden – Fish suspected in deadly Swedish Listeria outbreak

Food Safety News

Three people have died in Sweden as part of a Listeria outbreak that may have been caused by smoked fish.

Folkhälsomyndigheten (the Public Health Agency of Sweden) said deaths of three of the older patients were connected to their Listeria infections but it is not clear if they died with or because of listeriosis.

From the end of May to the beginning of July, 10 people contracted Listeria infections caused by the same type of the bacteria. Another four people fell ill in late 2022 from this strain.

Patients are 10 men and four women aged 63 to 93 years old. They live in eight different regions in the country.

Based on information from a questionnaire given to patients about foods they ate before becoming sick, many reported eating gravad or cold-smoked salmon but the exact product that caused the outbreak is not yet clear.

USA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1171) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. There are currently 39 cases. FDA and state partners have initiated sample collection and testing and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • A new outbreak of E. coli O26 (ref #1165) with 13 cases linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163), the case count has increased from 118 to 121 cases and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), the case count has increased from 34 to 35 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 43 to 68 cases.
  • For the outbreak of hepatitis A virus (ref #1143) linked to frozen strawberries, the advisory was updated on July 20, 2023 to include one additional case. FDA reminds consumers to check their freezers and not eat recalled frozen strawberries.

Spain: Botulism outbreak linked to packaged potato omelette

Outbreak News Today

On July 11, Italy notified through the Early Warning and Response System of the Union Union (EWRS) two cases of botulism whose only food in common had been an omelet of packaged potato consumed in Spain.

On July 14, the Community of Madrid and the Community Valenciana notified the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE) of two cases with symptoms compatible with botulism, with ingestion of the same food, for which reason the immediately alerts the Autonomous Communities and Cities (CC.AA.).

Also, it contacted the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) as responsible for analyzing traceability and coordinating pertinent investigations regarding the food product.

Up to now, 7 cases have been reported with a history of consumption of packaged potato in the days prior to the onset of the symptoms: 5 laboratory-confirmed cases with symptom onset date between June 24 and July 10 and 2 probable cases (with compatible clinic and epidemiological link), whose dates of onset of symptoms have been 21 June and July 1 respectively.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef

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CDC

Investigators are working to identify the source of the ground beef sick people ate in this outbreak. Any ground beef can have germs, like Salmonella. Always cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 16
  • Hospitalizations: 6
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active
Two ground beef patties on a white background.
 
Source of the Outbreak

All of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate and where they bought it reported eating 80% lean ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York before they got sick. Ground beef is the only common food people reported eating. Investigators are working to identify the source of the ground beef sick people ate.

Salmonella in Ground Beef

Ground beef is a known source of Salmonella illnessesSalmonella germs live in the intestines of people and animals and can be spread through contaminated food, water, food preparation surfaces, and unwashed hands. Salmonella germs are killed when ground beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Eating raw or undercooked ground beef can make you sick.

Research – Listeria (Sweden 2022-2023)

Folkhalsomyndigheten

Cases where people have contracted listeria infection are now being investigated by the Public Health Agency in collaboration with the regional infection control units and the Swedish Food Agency.

From the end of May to the beginning of July, ten people have contracted listeria infection caused by the same variant of listeria, serotype IIa. Another four people fell ill in the fall of 2022 with the same strain of bacteria. The cases consist of ten men and four women and are aged 63 to 93 years. They have been reported from eight of the country’s regions. According to the information reported to the Public Health Authority, three of the patients in the oldest age group have died in close connection with their listeria infection.

The people we know who have become ill have had to answer a questionnaire about the foods they have eaten. Many have indicated that they ate cold-smoked and/or smoked salmon, but the exact product that caused the outbreak is not clear.

Risk groups for getting serious illness from listeria are pregnant women, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system.

Research – A Novel Foodborne Illness Detection and Web Application Tool Based on Social Media

MDPI

Abstract

Foodborne diseases and outbreaks are significant threats to public health, resulting in millions of illnesses and deaths worldwide each year. Traditional foodborne disease surveillance systems rely on data from healthcare facilities, laboratories, and government agencies to monitor and control outbreaks. Recently, there is a growing recognition of the potential value of incorporating social media data into surveillance systems. This paper explores the use of social media data as an alternative surveillance tool for foodborne diseases by collecting large-scale Twitter data, building food safety data storage models, and developing a novel frontend foodborne illness surveillance system. Descriptive and predictive analyses of the collected data were conducted in comparison with ground truth data reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The results indicate that the most implicated food categories and the distributions from both Twitter and the CDC were similar. The system developed with Twitter data could complement traditional foodborne disease surveillance systems by providing near-real-time information on foodborne illnesses, implicated foods, symptoms, locations, and other information critical for detecting a potential foodborne outbreak.