According to press reports, two Maplewood Elementary School children have been infected with shigellosis, the illness caused by Shigella infection. The Marion County Health Department contacted Maplewood officials on Wednesday, informing them that two students had contracted the illness; the school district launched an immediate review and response.
Shigella Blog Preventing the Spread of Shigella
The Health Protection Agency Scotlan (HPA) has released its 2011 report into the incidence of viral and protozoal reported infections 2011.
There were 1668 laboratory reports of Norovirus (NV) to HPS in 2011, a marked decrease of 1441 (46.3%) on 2010 when there were 3109 reports.
There were 1465 laboratory reports of Rotavirus to HPS in 2011, a decrease of 326 (18.2%) compared to 2010 when there were 1791 reports.
A total of 442 isolates of Cryptosporidium sp. were reported to HPS in 2011. This compares with 584 in 2010, a statistically significant decrease of 24%.
A total of 194 isolates of Giardia sp. were reported to HPS in 2011.
E. coli O26 and O157 have similar overall prevalences in cattle in Scotland, but in humans, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26 (STEC O26) infections are fewer and clinically less severe than E. coli O157 infections. To investigate this discrepancy, E. coli O26 isolates from cattle and humans in Scotland and continental Europe were genotyped. The genetic background of some strains from Scotland was closely related to that of strains causing severe infections in Europe. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling found an association between haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and multilocus sequence type 21 strains and confirmed the role of stx2 in severe human disease.
Norovirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in Europe. The virus is readily transmitted from person to person so outbreaks can easily become large, as shown in the outbreak that occurred in a Dublin Hotel just before Christmas. In this instance, around 580 people reported illness after attending events in the hotel. Food and water can also be sources of norovirus infection when they are either contaminated with faecal matter or cross-contaminated by food handlers.
A major issue for the Authorities and the industry in Ireland surrounds decisions regarding the safety of oysters when they are found to contain norovirus genome copies but are nevertheless compliant with all applicable control requirements. In this context the FSAI requested advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the public health risks associated with establishing standards for noroviruses in oysters.
EFSA concluded that norovirus is highly infectious and low doses can result in disease. However, it noted that the amount of virus detected in oysters linked to human illness could vary greatly. It also concluded that norovirus genetic material was frequently detected in European oysters even when they complied with existing control standards.
The opinion went on to recommend that risk managers should consider establishing an acceptable limit for norovirus in oysters that are intended to be harvested and placed on the market in the EU.
Researchers in Brazil have found high levels of the potentially lethal contaminant aflatoxin in chocolate and say constant monitoring is required.
Posted in Aflatoxin, Chocolate, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Mycotoxin
Tagged aflatoxin, chocolate, food production
Three cases of salmonellosis were found in three children attending the Parish Kindergarten in the Centrol per la Famiglia of Cassinone in Seriate, Italy. They belong to the spring group, consisting of children between 2- and 3-years-old.
A boy of two-and-a-half years began showing symptoms Friday and by Sunday, had to be hospitalized.
Lab testing prompted a salmonellosis diagnosis, as in the case of two other children from the kindergarten who have been hospitalized at the Pesenti Fenaroli hospital in Alzano.
Traces of a bacteria that can cause death have been found in ready-to-eat fish products in Metro Vancouver.
A University of British Columbia study found traces of listeria in 40 fish product samples tested before their expiry date.
The study, led by UBC food microbiologist Kevin Allen and published in a recent issue of the journal Food Microbiology, did not name the products or the seven large chain stores and 10 small retailers where they were purchased.
The type of foods tested included lox, smoked tuna, candied salmon and fish jerky. The listeria was found in 20 per cent of the products tested, of those, five had the more virulent variety of listeria monocytogenes.
SPAR is recalling one batch of SPAR Flame Grilled Chicken Chunks due to the presence of low levels of Listeria monocytogenes being detected in one sample during routine monitoring.
The affected batch of 140g packs has a use-by date of 3 March 2012 and was distributed to stores in the Midlands and Wales.
No cases of illness linked to the product have been reported but, as a precaution, consumers who have bought the affected product should not consume it and can return it to SPAR for a full refund.
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 23: Member of Municipal Council Jenan Bushahri has revealed that a consignment of frozen chicken which was imported into the country through the Shuwaikh Port was unfit for human consumption, reports Annahar daily.
She added the sample of chicken which was sent to the Ministry of Health laboratory proved the chicken contained bacteria called salmonella.
A total of 14 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O26 have been reported from 6 states. The two new cases have been reported from Michigan. Both new cases reported eating at Jimmy John’s restaurants and consuming sprouts in the 7 days preceding illness.
Hamilton Public Health officials have discovered another 12 cases of salmonella illnesses after asking anyone who has eaten at Eat a Pita on Main Street East since Feb. 1 to call them.
Officials declared a salmonella outbreak connected to Eat a Pita after investigating four salmonella cases linked to the restaurant. Eat a Pita has been closed as a result of improper food handling. During a previously scheduled health inspection on Feb. 1, it was found that cooked chicken wasn’t being kept at a high enough temperature.
