Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA- Oasis of the Seas: 277 sickened on cruise, voyage cut short – Norovirus?

Outbreak News Today

Health officials are reporting some 277 passengers and crew onboard Royal Caribbean’s vessel, Oasis of the Seas, have fell ill with vomiting being the predominant symptom.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 266 of 6,285 (4.23%) passengers and 11 of 2,169 (0.51%) crew were sickened.

While media reports state the cause of the outbreak as Norovirus, CDC officials report the causative agent as being “unknown” as of Jan. 10.

The ship left left Port Canaveral on a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise on Sunday. The ship will return to Port Canaveral on Saturday, one day ahead of schedule.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Peanuts – Almond Kernels – Almonds

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13,3; Tot. = 14,7 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 23.9; Tot. = 26.2 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts in shell from Egypt in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 15.7; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernels from Australia, via Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernel from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = >24; Tot. = >24 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernels from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = >24; Tot. = >24 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernels from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22.8 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22.7; Tot. = >24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 17.2; Tot. = 21.7 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Australia, manufactured in Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = >24; Tot. = >24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Vietnam in Spain

 

RASFF Alert – Ochratoxin A -Raisins

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RASFF-ochratoxin A (66.5 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Uzbekistan, via Slovakia in the Czech Republic

RASFF Alert- Listeria monocytogenes – Butter

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RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in butter from Ireland in Ireland

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed – Rye Ergot – Mycotoxin – Rye

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RASFF-rye ergot (Claviceps purpurea) (1115 mg/kg – ppm) in rye from Germany in Belgium

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Dog Chews – Sunflower Cakes – Soybean Meal -Rapeseed Meal – Dried Pigs Ears -Organic Soy Expeller –

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RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (present /25g) in dog chews from China in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in organic sunflower cakes from Austria in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella in dog chews from Germany in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Senftenberg (presence /25g) in soybean meal from Italy in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Tennessee (presence /250g) in rapeseed meal from Germany in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Derby (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Livingstone (presence /25g) in dried pig ears from Germany in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Münster (presence /25g) in rapeseed meal from Russia in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Hessarek (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in dog chews from Germany in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Münster (presence /25g) in rapeseed meal from Russia in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in organic soy expeller from Kazakhstan, via Russia in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Derby (present /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium monophasic (1 ,4, [5], 12:i:-) (present /25g) in dog chews from Belgium, via Germany in Austria

Bengal – Bengal food poisoning scare: Primary school students hospitalised after eating mid-day meal

Times Now News

30 students of a primary school in Burdwan district of West Bengal were hospitalized after consuming mid-day meals. The showed symptoms of nausea, vomiting and mild fever and are now recovering in a government hospital.

Australia – Recall: Raw Apricot Kernels

NSW Food Authority

The NSW Food Authority advises:

Tamex Import Export has recalled the above product from Fred’s one stop, Nevros Supermarket, Middle East Supermarket, BM Fruit Market, and Fairfield Forum Market in NSW.

Product details:

  • Raw Apricot Kernels, 400g, plastic bag
  • Best Before 27.03.2019

Problem: The recall is due to biotoxin (hydrocyanic acid) contamination.

Food safety hazard: Food products containing hydrocyanic acid may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin: Turkey

What to do: Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For more information on this recall, contact Tamex Import Export on 02 9832 3656​

Information – The Contagion® Outbreak Monitor

Contagion Live

I came across this which is quite an interesting tool for looking at outbreaks.

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The Contagion® Outbreak Monitor provides details on the number of confirmed cases, deaths, and recent website articles on infectious disease outbreaks.
Use the Contagion® Outbreak Monitor to learn about infectious disease outbreaks in your geographical region and manipulate the map to find out the latest information on global outbreaks. Click on “Trends” to learn more about trends in the number of cases and deaths.

Norway – 13 sick: Some had eaten rakfish: — more affected by mysterious listeria outbreaks in eastern Norway

BArfblog

News Beezer reports that shortly before Christmas, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health announced that there had been six reports of a new outbreak of Listeriosis. Today it was known that this number has increased significantly and that the affected area is also larger than previously known. So far, five patients have detected bacteria with a similar DNA profile.