Category Archives: Water Safety

USA – FDA investigates cases of Legionnaires disease on cruise ships

Posted on February 28, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

FDA Warning Letters

American Cruise Lines
Guilford, CT

American Cruise Lines is on notice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after an inspection of their American Star and American Heritage vessels. According to the warning letter, the FDA continues to have concerns with the potential exposure of passengers and crew members to Legionella onboard American Cruise Lines’ vessels.

In Jan. 24, 2023, warning letter, the FDA described an April 30 through June 17, 2022, an inspection of American Cruise Lines’ American Star and American Heritage vessels.

The warning letter includes information about failed water tests for a sink in the galley and hand-washing sinks for wait staff. The FDA also found that disinfection was ineffective.

American Star
Presence of Legionella Onboard the Vessel

On April 30, 2022, FDA investigators collected 10 biofilm swabs and 14 bulk one-liter potable water samples from various locations on the vessel. The Maryland Department of Health laboratory recovered Legionella from:

Biofilm Swabs with 60 percent of samples positive:

American Heritage

Presence of Legionella Onboard the Vessel

On June 15, 2022, FDA investigators collected 24 biofilm swabs and 29 bulk one-liter potable water samples from various locations on their vessels. The Maryland Department of Health laboratory recovered Legionella from:

Biofilm Swabs with 8 percent of samples positive:

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Outbreak of Shigella sonnei in the EU/EEA and the United Kingdom among travellers returning from Cabo Verde

Posted on February 23, 2023 by | Leave a comment

ECDC

As of 16 February 2023, 10 EU/EEA countries and the UK reported and the US reported 221 confirmed Shigella sonnei infections and 37 possible cases, all with a link to Cabo Verde.

Information on possible ways of infection or common exposure have not yet been identified but investigations are ongoing in Cabo Verde. Multiple modes of transmission are plausible, and the most likely way is through food, including via infected food handlers. However, person-to-person transmission is also possible.

The S. sonnei strain in the current outbreak indicates predicted resistance to trimethoprim and streptomycin but in some cases, multidrug resistance has also been detected.

Based on the available information, many cases are reported to have stayed in all-inclusive hotels located in the region of Santa Maria on the island of Sal. The most recent cases were reported in Sweden on 19 January 2023, suggesting an ongoing moderate risk of new infections among travellers to Cabo Verde, particularly among those staying in the region of Santa Maria on the Island of Sal.

Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal infection caused by one of four species of Shigella bacteria: Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae. Humans are the primary reservoirs for Shigella.

Shigellosis is caught by oral contact with material contaminated by faeces, either through direct person-to-person contact, via contaminated food or water, or via objects which have been in contact with faeces. The necessary dose for infection is small, which increases transmissibility.

Food-related outbreaks are often caused by infected food handlers, who contaminate ready-to-eat food items like salads. Waterborne infection can occur if drinking or recreational water is contaminated with faeces from an infected person.

Handwashing with soap and water is important, especially after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. Additional care with food and drinking water when travelling abroad is also important. There is no vaccine currently available to prevent Shigella infection.

People with shigellosis should not attend school, handle food, or provide child or patient care whilst ill. Children under the age of five, food handlers, and healthcare staff should stay at home for 48 hours after their symptoms have ceased.

ECDC encourages public health authorities in the EU/EEA to increase awareness among healthcare professionals on the possibility of Shigella infections among people that recently travelled to Cabo Verde.

Together with WHO/Europe, ECDC is in regular contact with authorities in Cabo Verde to support investigations on the sources of infection and to increase awareness among healthcare professionals in the country.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Shigatoxin, Shigella, Shigella flexneri, Shigella Sonnei, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Project looks for cost-effective ways to monitor Cyclospora in agricultural water

Posted on February 21, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Research funded by the Center for Produce Safety is looking for a cost-effective method to detect Cyclospora in irrigation water, including a paper-based in-field water test.

The project seeks to use short strands of synthesized DNA, or aptamers, to bind to the target of interest — in this case, Cyclospora’s transmission stage.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite, that is nearly impossible to culture in the laboratory and requires complicated microscopy for detection in samples.

Lia Stanciu, Ph.D., with Purdue University, lead researcher on the project said,  “We were able to identify certain proteins on the cell membrane of Cyclospora that are unique only to Cyclospora and to which we can bind some DNA sequences.”

“We can synthesize those DNA-specific molecules. The next step would be to integrate those DNA molecules into something similar to a rapid COVID test or pregnancy test.”

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, Parasite, Protozoan, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak Linked to American Cruise Lines

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Daily Hornet

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to American Cruise Lines after 3 passengers got Legionnaire’s disease and the company failed to adequately treat the ships’ drinking water.

The first confirmed case of Legionnaire’s disease was reported in April 2021, with two more cases reported in September and October 2021.

Between April and August 2022, FDA inspectors tested the drinking water on the American Star and American Heritage and found ongoing evidence of Legionella bacteria.

Shockingly, 93% of water samples on the American Star tested positive for Legionella bacteria in April 2022, including samples taken from showerheads in the rooms for passengers and crew.

In June 2022, multiple samples of drinking water from showerheads and faucets on the American Heritage also tested positive for Legionella, according to the FDA.

Despite problems with Legionella contamination and illnesses, the FDA said that American Cruise Lines failed to take adequate stops to treat the ships’ water supply.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

England – Norovirus cases increase significantly in England

Posted on February 14, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Gov UK

Food Borne Illness - Norovirus -CDC Photo

National surveillance data shows laboratory reports of the virus are 66% higher than the average at this time of year. The biggest increase in laboratory confirmed norovirus has been seen in the group of those aged 65 years and over. While high numbers of cases in this age group is expected at this time of year, these levels haven’t been seen in over a decade.

In response to the increase in cases, UKHSA is reminding the public of the actions that they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus.

Norovirus is highly infectious and is easily spread through contact with someone with the infection or with contaminated surfaces. One of the best ways to prevent the spread of norovirus is by practising good hand hygiene. Most people will make a full recovery within 2 to 3 days but it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially for the very young, elderly or those with weakened immune systems who are more at risk.

The number of outbreaks caused by norovirus have increased in hospitals, schools and care homes, with the majority of outbreaks reported in care home settings.

Dr Lesley Larkin, Surveillance Lead, Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) Division at UKHSA, said:

Norovirus levels are currently the highest we have seen at this time of year in over a decade. Most reported cases are in the over 65s and we’re also seeing a rise in reported outbreaks, particularly in care home settings.

Please stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus symptoms and do not return to work (particularly if you work with vulnerable people or food) or send sick children to school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. If you have a loved one in a care home or hospital, please avoid visiting until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared.

Regular hand washing is really important to help stop the spread of this bug, but remember, alcohol gels do not kill off norovirus so soap and warm water is best.

NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said:

The number of people in hospitals with norovirus has risen significantly in line with what we are seeing in the community and in care homes – it is a really unpleasant illness to catch, but for the vast majority of people it will usually pass in a couple of days, and self-treating at home is the best way to help yourself and avoid putting others at risk.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Virus, gastroenteritis, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Norovirus, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Philippines – 9 water sources in Negros Oriental town test positive for E.coli

Posted on February 14, 2023 by | Leave a comment

PNA

DUMAGUETE CITY – At least nine water sources from different areas in Vallehermoso town, Negros Oriental province, tested positive for E.coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria that left five people dead, and more cases reported over the weekend.

Jennifer Remollo, the provincial officer of the Department of Health (DOH) in Negros Oriental, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview Monday that laboratory tests were done from water samples taken from these sources after the number of cases skyrocketed last week.

“As of today, our office has recorded 203 cases of acute gastroenteritis, including the five deaths that were earlier reported last week,” Remollo said.

“Consumption of E.coli contaminated water sources can be fatal due to severe dehydration from diarrhea,” she said.

Included in those that tested positive for the bacteria were mostly from deep well and spring sources in the areas of Barangay Don Espiridion Villegas; Sitio Sangi, Barangay Tabon; Sitio Patag, Barangay Puan; Sitio Tubod, Barangay Malangsa; Barangay Puan; Malapay 1, Barangay Bagawines;; Barangay Macapso; and Barangay Poblacion, Remollo said.

The DOH official said constant rains for many days in these areas may have caused the contamination of these water sources.

She said 82 of those who came down with symptoms were admitted to the hospital.

Those who died were residents of Barangay Puan.

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Posted in Contaminated water, E.coli, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

New Zealand – Vomiting affects school after E. coli found in town’s water

Posted on February 13, 2023 by | Leave a comment

1 News

People have been vomiting due to water pollution in Murupara in the Bay of Plenty.

The council is urging people to boil all water after elevated levels of E. coli were found in the town’s drinking water supply.

However, the advice was too late for some, with Murupara Area School reporting that students and teachers have been affected.

Students are asked to bring boiled water with them.

“Please be aware we already have some students and teachers vomiting due to the water pollution,” the school wrote on Facebook.

“We are worried that this could spread throughout the school.”

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Posted in Boil Water Notice, Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – ESBL- and Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae among Bivalves from Portuguese Shellfish Production Areas

Posted on February 12, 2023 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

Bivalves are filter-feeding organisms and biomarkers of bacterial pollution. Our study aimed to analyze the occurrence and characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli among bivalves. A total of 522 bivalve samples were collected along Portuguese shellfish production areas. Homogenized samples were screened for E. coli contamination on corresponding selective plates, allowing for concomitant growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae. E. coli growth was observed in 39% of the samples. Subsequent selective screening identified nine samples (4.4%) contaminated with ESBL producers, corresponding to E. coli (n = 7) and K. pneumoniae (n = 2), while a single carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (0.5%) was identified. ESBLs were all CTX-M-types commonly identified in human isolates, i.e., CTX-M-32 (n = 4), CTX-M-15 (n = 4), and CTX-M-14 (n = 1). The carbapenemase producer harbored the blaGES-5 gene located on a ColE plasmid. Clonality was evaluated by multilocus sequence typing, identifying E. coli backgrounds as ST10, ST23, ST540, ST617, ST746, SLV206, and SLV2325, commonly identified among environmental and human strains. The K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to ST834, ST15, and DLV644. The occurrence of ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in bivalves reveals how the marine environment constitutes a reservoir of critical bacterial pathogens, thus potentially representing a risk to human health.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, ESBL, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Klebsiella, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – The Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Wild-Living Carnivores in Poland—A Question Concerning Its Host Specificity

Posted on February 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that primarily infects the gastrointestinal epithelium in humans and domestic and wild animals. The majority of studies have been focused on human, livestock, and pet infections. Hence, Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife, including wild carnivores, remained neglected. There are several studies reporting the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild foxes, but these are only a few molecular surveys; no data is available concerning the occurrence of this parasite in raccoon dogs and martens in Europe, and to the best of our knowledge to date, only one study has reported Cryptosporidium from badgers in Spain. Therefore, we used molecular analyses to identify and genotype Cryptosporidium spp. in wild-living mesocarnivores in Poland. A total of 322 individual fecal samples from six carnivore species, i.e., raccoon, raccoon dog, red fox, European badger, pine, and beech martens were collected and then analyzed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using the nested PCR method. The appearance of PCR products in the reaction with Cryptosporidium-specific primers against the 18S rRNA and actin genes demonstrated that Cryptosporidium spp. occurred in 23.0% of all examined species of animals. Performed sequence analyses showed the presence of the Cryptosporidium skunk genotype, Cryptosporidium vole genotype II, Cryptosporidium canis dog and fox genotypes, as well as Cryptosporidium erinacei, Cryptosporidium ditrichi, Cryptosporidium suis, and Cryptosporidium alticolis, in these hosts. Molecular data presented here indicate that examined mesocarnivores may be a significant reservoir of specific and non-specific Cryptosporidium species, including those with zoonotic potential. Most studies of carnivores have described the presence of non-specific Cryptosporidium spp. in carnivore hosts, and this is probably the result of the transfer of these parasites from prey species through the digestive tract or the transfer of the parasite from a contaminated environment.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Impact of Pipe Material and Temperature on Drinking Water Microbiome and Prevalence of Legionella, Mycobacterium, and Pseudomonas Species

Posted on February 4, 2023 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

In drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), pipe material and water temperature are some of the critical factors affecting the microbial flora of water. Six model DWDSs consisting of three pipe materials (galvanized steel, copper, and PEX) were constructed. The temperature in three systems was maintained at 22 °C and the other 3 at 32 °C to study microbial and elemental contaminants in a 6-week survey using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Pipe material and temperature were preferentially linked with the composition of trace elements and the microbiome of the DWDSs, respectively. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum across all water samples ranging from 60.9% to 91.1%. Species richness (alpha diversity) ranking was PEX < steel ≤ copper system and elevated temperature resulted in decreased alpha diversity. Legionellaceae were omni-prevalent, while Mycobacteriaceae were more prevalent at 32 °C (100% vs. 58.6%) and Pseudomonadaceae at 22 °C (53.3% vs. 62.9%). Heterogeneity between communities was disproportionately driven by the pipe material and water temperature. The elevated temperature resulted in well-defined microbial clusters (high pseudo-F index) in all systems, with the highest impact in PEX (10.928) followed by copper (9.696) and steel (5.448). Legionellaceae and Mycobacteriaceae are preferentially prevalent in warmer waters. The results suggest that the water temperature has a higher magnitude of impact on the microbiome than the pipe material.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety