Category Archives: outbreak

Denmark – Worlds Greatest Restaurant- 67 Sick

Posted on March 9, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Copenhagen Post

A total of 67 guests succumb to vomiting and diarrhoea after dining at Noma, Denmark’s most famous gourmet restaurant
Fødevarestyrelsen criticised Noma for not disinfecting the kitchen in time in order to prevent the contagion from spreading and also said there was no hot water in the taps that staff used to wash their hands (Photo: Scanpix)

Noma’s reputation as one of the world’s best gourmet restaurants was blighted today after it was revealed that 67 people had become ill after eating there.

The national food authorities, Fødevarestyrelsen, inspected the restaurant on February 20 after it received reports that a number of the restaurant’s guests had become ill with Roskilde Sickness, a norovirus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, after dining there from February 12-16.

Out of 78 guests served over the period, a total of 63 fell ill, which prompted Fødevarestyrelsen to make an inspection in which it found hygiene problems.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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New Zealand – Cryptosporidium Outbreak?

Posted on March 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The New Zealand Herald763px-Cryptosporidium_parvum_01

Hawke’s Bay’s water operators are checking the region’s supplies for contamination of Cryptosporidium.

Health authorities have issued a warning following the diagnosis of 45 people over the past two months.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Nicholas Jones said the health protection team is analysing information to establish the cause of the outbreak – and expect there is more than one source.

“We’ve been in touch with the water operators and they don’t think they’ve got problems at the moment, but obviously it’s something we’re going to be looking into in more detail,” said Dr Jones.

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Protozoan, Water

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WHO – New Food Safety Platform – FOSCOLLAB

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

WHO foscollab_wordle

An innovative tool for food safety

FOSCOLLAB is a new WHO platform for food safety professionals.

FOSCOLLAB enables users to:

  • Access food safety data and information quickly
  • Maximize the utility of already existing sources and minimize duplication of efforts
  • Integrate data and information coming from animal/agriculture, food and human health areas to improve global public health
  • Promote better generation of data
  • Strengthen the underlying sources by promoting awareness and increased utilization

By integrating multiple sources of reliable data, FOSCOLLAB helps overcome the challenges of accessing these key sources in a timely manner. It allows for better risk assessment and decision-making by food safety professionals and authorities.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Research

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Ireland – Creche with E.coli Cases

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Irish Examiner

Further possible cases of E.coli infection are being investigated in children attending a Cork crèche where one case has already been confirmed.

The HSE told parents of children attending First Steps in Midleton  the infection is now being treated as “an outbreak investigation” following reports of diarrhoeal illnesses in more babies.

The HSE received official confirmation of the first case on Wednesday. It is understood a baby tested positive. On foot of this, all 85 children and 15 staff who attend the Mill Rd crèche must now be tested.

Yesterday the HSE distributed kits to parents for collection of two stool samples. The samples will have to be microbiologically tested at the National VTEC (Verotoxigenic E.coli) reference laboratory in Dublin. In the meantime, the parents have been warned by the HSE that their child should not attend any childcare facility until both samples test clear of infection.
Staff have also been asked to refrain from working with children.

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Posted in Bacteria, EHEC, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – Alaskan Raw Milk Outbreak Expands – Campylobacter

Posted on February 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Alaskan Government

Campylobacter Outbreak Associated with Consumption of Raw Milk Kenai Peninsula, January – February 2013

The purpose of this Health Advisory is to inform you of a recent and potentially ongoing outbreak of Campylobacter infections that have been associated with consuming raw milk.

What is the outbreak?

Campylobacter infection is reportable by state regulations to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Section of Epidemiology (SOE). Since late January, 2013, four people with confirmed Campylobacterinfection and at least one person with probable infection reported consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk in the few days preceding illness. One infant with close contact to a confirmed case-patient is also suspected of having Campylobacter infection. All six reside on the Kenai Peninsula. The Campylobacter isolated from the four lab-confirmed cases are a match by molecular techniques (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE). This strain of Campylobacter has not been previously identified in Alaska.

What is Campylobacter and how do people become infected?

Campylobacter are bacteria that can cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramping/pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever within 2 to 5 days after exposure. The illness typically lasts from several days to over a week, with variable severity. Some people, especially young children or individuals with compromised immune systems, can develop severe or even life-threatening illness. Infrequently, Campylobacter infection leads to long-term consequences. Some people with Campylobacter infection develop arthritis, and rarely, some develop a life-threatening disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome that inflames the nerves of the body beginning several weeks after the onset of diarrhea.

Outbreaks of Campylobacter are often associated with consumption of unpasteurized milk —one such outbreak, traced to a Mat-Su Valley farm, resulted in 18 illnesses in Alaska in 2011. Other sources ofCampylobacter infection include consumption of undercooked meat, consumption of food or water cross-contaminated by raw meat, or contact with feces from infected animals. Human to human transmission can also occur.

 

 

 

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Posted in Campylobacter, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak

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India – 400 Ill After Food Poisoning

Posted on February 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Times of Indiaimages

GUWAHATI: At least 400 people, including children, were taken ill after food poisoning in North Dimoria block of Kamrup (Metro) district on Friday.

Children of Durung ME School, Koraiguri LP School and Koikari LP School went to their respective institutions for Saraswati Puja on Friday. They fell ill after they consumed grams and khichri. On Saturday morning, the patients were admitted to the 30-bed Khetri Hospital and Sonapur Primary Healthcare Centre from where the critical ones were referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital(GMCH).

Principal of GMCH Kabul Saikia, said: “More than 400 people fell ill after consuming grams and khichri. The figure may increase. In our hospital, about 23 patients were admitted till 7.30 pm and more patients are on their way. Among the 23 patients, 15 are adults. It is difficult to tell the exact figure now.”

“We have opened one relief camp at Khetri and five doctors have been sent to the site. The critical patients are being brought here for treatment. The patients complained of vomiting, fever, dizziness, diarrhoea and abdominal pain,” he added.

He said: “We are making all arrangements to provide best possible treatment.”

Bhojan Das, the father of Vikram who has been admitted to GMCH, said: “My son who studies in Durong ME School went to his institution on Friday and ate grams and khichri. From early morning, he complained of vomiting and abdominal pain and his body turned pale. Noticing this, we took him to the nearby clinic from where he was referred to GMCH.”

According to the report made available by the GMCH superintendent, Ramen Talukdar around 8.30 pm: “More than 100 patients have been admitted to the hospital and 300 are on their way. As there is limited capacity of beds in our hospital, around 50 patients have been sent to Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital .

Ambulance have been called in from Morigaon, Guwahati and Jagiroad. Moreover, five buses have been engaged to bring patients to the hospital.”

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak

Posted on February 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Alaska PublicCampylobacter

The State Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of a food borne illness linked to raw milk. Officials have confirmed four cases of Campylobacter infection in people who drank raw milk on the Kenai Peninsula. The illness causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

Dr. Brian Yablon is a medical epidemiologist with the state. He says the cases have all been identified by the state lab in the last three weeks:

“When they looked at these strains, they found that the four specimens were all exactly the same type, so that is consistent with a cluster of illnesses and when we found out additional information it seemed that all of the people who developed the infection had consumed raw milk or unpasteurized milk in the proceeding several days before they got sick,” Yablon said.

The state is still working to identify the source of the raw milk. A farmer named Kevin Byers in Kasilof distributes raw milk to families around the state. He did not agree to a recorded interview, but said he doesn’t know if his milk is responsible for the outbreak. He says his customers drink his milk for the perceived health benefits. According to a recent newspaper article, Byers has 150 customers as far away as Sitka.

Selling raw milk is illegal in Alaska. But farmers have found ways to do it legally.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – CDC Report Salmonella Heidelburg Outbreak 2012

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CDCcdc

Since June 4, 2012, a total of 124 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 12 states.

32% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Most of the ill persons have been reported from two states, Washington (56) and Oregon (38).

State public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness.

Information available to date indicates that consumption of chicken is the most likely source of infection for many of the ill persons.

Oregon and Washington have identified Foster Farms brand chicken as the most likely source of the infections in their states.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is currently conducting an investigation to determine the source of infections in this outbreak.

It is not unusual for raw poultry from any producer to have Salmonella. This underscores the importance for consumers to follow food safety tips to help protect themselves and others from foodborne illness.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

Israel – Foodborne Illness – Hepatitis A – Market Vegetables

Posted on February 10, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Link

Dozens of hepatitis A cases reported in the Tel Aviv area in Israel since last year may be linked to vegetables health officials say, according to a Haaretz report Friday.

Israeli health officials say since the beginning of 2012, there have been 69 cases of the viral liver disease reported from the area, with the majority reported in the latter half of the year.

This is a dramatic increase from the seven cases reported in all of 2011.

According to the report, Health Ministry officials believe the source may be vegetables sold in open-air markets in the south of the city.

 

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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Australia – Third Death Linked to Listeria monocytogenes in Cheese

Posted on February 10, 2013 by | 2 comments

Courier Mail Au

A LISTERIA outbreak linked to a Victorian cheese factory has claimed a third life. A 68-year-old NSW man died from the infection last month, a Victorian health department spokesman confirmed on Sunday.

A Tasmanian man, 44, and a Victorian man, 88, have also died of the illness.

A total of 26 cases, including the three fatal cases and one miscarriage, have now been linked to the Jindi cheese factory in Gippsland.

Some soft cheeses produced by Jindi were pulled from supermarket shelves last year but the Victorian health department spokesman said the bacteria had a long incubation period.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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