Health Protection Scotland (HPS) today (21 August 2018) published the surveillance report ‘Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in Scotland 2017: enhanced surveillance and reference laboratory data’.
This report is available at: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/pubs/detail.aspx?id=3559.
Posted in E.coli, STEC, Uncategorized, VTEC
Public Health England (PHE), Public Health Wales (PHW), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the Health Protection Service Northern Ireland (HPSNI) are investigating an increase in cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in travellers who have recently returned from Mexico. This is the fourth successive year since 2015 that cases of the infection have been reported in travellers returning from Mexico.
As of 3 August 2018, 63 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis have been reported in England, Scotland and Wales. Where information is available, 55 (87%) report travel outside the UK, of which 49 (89%) report recent travel to Mexico. Where information is available, cases have stayed at several different hotels in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region suggesting the source is likely to be a foodstuff that has been distributed to hotels throughout the region.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other primates. Infection can cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, nausea, flatulence, loss of appetite, fatigue, low-grade fever and weight loss. Infection without symptoms is also reported. Infections in HIV positive people and those with other immune deficiencies can be more severe.
Infection is commonly derived from food or water contaminated by human faeces. The foods commonly involved are soft fruits such as raspberries and salad products such as coriander, basil and lettuce. The risk of infection presented by imported foods is considered to be low.
Advice for travellers on the prevention of Cyclospora is available from Health Protection Scotland: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=22743.
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European health officials are reporting a Shigella sonnei outbreak among participants of a Rainbow Gathering in the south-east of Poland.
Between 5 and 10 August 2018, 45 participants presented with gastroenteritis symptoms, 14 of these tested positive for Shigella sonnei. The event took place between 13 July and 11 August and so it is likely that most participants, which come from many countries within the EU, have now left the area.
Last year, a typhoid outbreak was linked to the European Rainbow gathering that took place in Tramonti di Sopra, Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Italy.
Longhill Farms is recalling raw, unpasteurized milk in New Zealand because it has been found to be contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria.
The product is sold in 1 liter or 2 liter glass bottles or in customer supplied containers. Affected products have batch numbers: D-0608 to D-1508 inclusive and use-by dates of Aug. 10 to Aug. 19, inclusive.
It was sold from a vending machine at Longhill Farms in Kawakawa, Northland, and is not exported. There have been no reports of illness. Customers are advised to return the products to Longhill Farms for a full refund.
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Posted in Clostridium perfringens, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Sulphite Reducing Clostridia, Uncategorized
The number of e-coli cases here is rising faster than in any other European country.
That is according to data collected by the European Food Safety Authority.
715 cases of illness from the food born disease have been reported so far this year.
Posted in Uncategorized
Since 2004, the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey Program constitutes the longest running, and most comprehensive survey of its kind. It details the incidence of the main mycotoxins occurring in agricultural commodities, which include aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), fumonisins (FUM) and ochratoxin A (OTA).
The survey focuses on components that are used for feed such as corn, wheat, barley, rice, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, dried distillers grains (DDGS) and silage, among others.
From January to June 2018, the BIOMIN scientists have tested 8,310 samples, from different regions around the world.
Figure 1. Occurrence of mycotoxins worldwide through Q2 2018. Average of all samples collected by BIOMIN.
Posted in Aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, DON, Food Toxin, Fumonsins, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Uncategorized, Zearalenone
In the second episode of mass hospitalisation from a school within a week, 16 children and a teacher were rushed to hospital after complaints of food poisoning.
According to Dr Usha Mohprekar, medical superintendent in MT Agrawal Hospital in Mulund, all the patients complained of vomiting and stomach pain but “all are stable”.
The incident occurred in a private organisation-run Sahyadri Vidyamandir school in Bhandup on Thursday around 12.35 pm.
“The children suffered from food poisoning,” a civic official said, adding that school staff and ward’s medical officer have reached the spot.
READ | Mumbai: 12-year-old girl dies, 197 hospitalised on suspicion of medicine poisoning in BMC school
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Authorities are investigating a possible connection between an ongoing salmonella outbreak and a recent church picnic as the number of confirmed sick in Perry County has risen to 50.
Sheila Hahs, Perry County Health Department communicable-disease coordinator, said Friday no cause has been determined.
Hahs said the department continues to work with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which has begun distributing a survey seeking in-depth information about the behavior of individuals who attended the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary Picnic Aug. 3, 4 and 5.
The introduction to the 45-question online survey, titled “Church Picnic Salmonella Outbreak 2018,” states at least some of the reported ill attended the picnic. The survey asks participants to detail any symptoms, treatments, whether they brought or prepared food at the picnic and which foods, if any, they consumed while there.
Hahs said the survey is a starting point, after which representatives from the Perry County Health Department will conduct individual follow-up interviews with people who were sickened.
