Category Archives: Water

USA – Sheraton Atlanta Legionnaires’ disease: 11 confirmed, 55 probable outbreak cases

Posted on July 31, 2019 by | 2 comments

Outbreak News Today

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In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reports 11 lab-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease and 55 probable cases of Legionnaires’ disease related to this outbreak through July 29.

No deaths have been reported.

Probable cases are people who had illness consistent with Legionnaires’ disease, including pneumonia diagnosed by a clinician or chest X-ray, but without laboratory confirmation. The number of probable cases can change based on additional testing and lab results.

Since the first cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed two weeks ago, epidemiologists from DPH and Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH)  have been reviewing hundreds of survey responses from individuals who stayed at or visited the Sheraton Atlanta between June 12 and July 15, 2019. The surveys help identify people who may have been ill, especially those with severe illness like pneumonia.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Legionella, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – 10 Sick in Chesterfield Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Posted on July 26, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

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A press release from the Virginia Department of Health announced that 10 people are sick in Chesterfield, Virginia in a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak. The 10 confirmed illnesses are more cases then the county sees during the summer, which is usually 3 cases. Due to this outbreak, a Chesterfield school was forced to close. The health department is working with the CDC to identify the outbreak source.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – FDA warns about fresh basil imported from Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos in Mexico – Cyclospora

Posted on July 26, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News 220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos, Mexico to the United States.

The fresh basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico is the subject of a multi-state outbreak investigation of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.

As of July 9, health official found 132 illnesses in ten states that are attributed to the outbreak.   Four patients required hospitalization.   Restaurants in Florida, Minnesota, New York and Ohio exposed patrons to the parasite.

Cyclospora is a parasite typically transmitted by contaminated food.    Some areas, such as Massachusetts, are this year experiencing higher Cyclosproa case counts than normal. States with Cyclospora cases associated with the current outbreak are found in CT, FL, IA, MA, MN, NY, OH, RI, SC, and WI.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Case Count Rises to 10 in Atlanta Sheraton Legionnaires Disease Outbreak

Posted on July 25, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that case counts are up to 10 now in the outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease linked to the downtown Atlanta Sheraton hotel. The property remains closed amid the outbreak and its investigation. At this time, no definitive source at the property has been confirmed to have caused the illnesses. According to local media reports, the “investigators continued testing water in pools, fountains, hot tubs, faucets, chillers and other locations at the hotel.”

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Issues with Vibrio vulnifcus and Enterococcus

Posted on July 25, 2019 by | Leave a comment

CBS Austin

The family of an elderly San Marcos man wants to spread a message after he died last month from a flesh-eating bacteria following a fishing trip on the Texas Gulf Coast.

His family took him to a Victoria hospital where he was immediately diagnosed with vibrio and underwent surgery. He did not survive.

According to the CDC, the infection often spreads very quickly. Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis can include:

  • A red or swollen area of skin that spreads quickly
  • Severe pain, including pain beyond the area of the skin that is red or swollen
  • Fever

See a doctor right away if you have these symptoms after an injury or surgery. Even though minor illnesses can cause symptoms like these, people should not delay getting medical care.

WJHG

The infection caused by Enterococcus is completely different from the infection caused by Vibrio Vulnificus or Group A Streptococcus, which is associated with what people refer to as “flesh-eating bacteria.”

“It’s very rare, Necrotizing Fasciitis is a complication from an infection, so, the most common bacteria that causes the Necrotizing Fasciitis is Group A Streptococcus, it can also be caused by Vibrio Vulnificus, which is a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in warm marine waters,” said Scully.

Unlike Vibrio Vulnificus, Group A Strep can be found in places other than saltwater, meaning you don’t have to enter the gulf to contract it.

Last week, it was reported an Alabama man had contracted Necrotizing Fasciitis in Panama City Beach. According to the report, it was a strand of strep, Group A Strep. FDOH-Bay County says it can’t be confirmed that case of Necrotizing Fasciitis was contracted in Panama City Beach due to it being caused by Group A Strep.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Enterococcus, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Vibrio vulnificans, Vibrio vulnificus, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – New York City reports spike in Cyclospora infections

Posted on July 22, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

New York City health officials are advising clinicians to be on the alert for patients with diarrhea due to Cyclospora infection.

From the beginning of the year through July 15, officials report 90 cases, including 40 cases since the beginning of the month. Approximately 30 percent of patients have reported travel outside of the United States in the two weeks prior to symptom onset, primarily to Latin America.

This compares with 56 cases in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period.

Epidemiologic investigations are ongoing to determine if there is a possible common food source for cases with no travel outside of NYC.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Sixth Case of Legionnaires’ Linked to Sheraton Atlanta Hotel

Posted on July 19, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

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As of today, 6 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to the Sheraton Downtown Atlanta Hotel. Following news of the hotel’s shut down last week, the Georgia Department of Health announced its involvement in the outbreak investigation.

The hotel said in a public statement that it could be several weeks before it reopens as health officials investigate. Meanwhile, guests of the hotel were relocated to the Hilton not far from the property.

Georgia Department of Public Health states it doesn’t know if the guests contracted the disease while actually staying at the hotel. The health agency believes the water system of the hotel could be to blame. “They have a beautiful swimming pool and it’s shut down right now. They say they’re working on the filtration system. Maybe they haven’t made the linkage,” Georgia State Epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said.

But the pool isn’t the only suspect. “Showerheads, hot tubs, perhaps even some outbreaks in the past have been associated with decorative fountains,” Georgia Department of Health epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Stainless Steel Sinks & Taps Linked to Legionnaires’ Disease

Posted on July 13, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Legionella Control

CDC legionella

Image CDC

Recent research looking at the growth of Legionella bacteria on stainless steel sinks and taps has shown that under certain conditions, the use of this popular metal can increase the health risks associated with the potentially life-threatening Legionnaires’ disease.

Stainless steel sinks are a popular choice in kitchens throughout the UK… however, research has indicated it may not be the wisest choice when considering the associated risks presented by the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria.

The same applies to stainless steel taps – also a popular choice for many understandable reasons.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – E. coli Outbreak at Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota Sickens 30

Posted on July 10, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A rather strange E. coli outbreak has sickened 30 people who visited Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota over the Fourth of July weekend. According to news reports, people have contacted the Hennepin County Public Health after they were on the lake, especially in the Big Island area. Those 30 cases have been confirmed by the department.

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Posted in Contaminated water, E.coli, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Vibrio vulnificus, ‘Flesh-eating bacteria’ cases, reported in Maryland, Florida

Posted on July 5, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today Vibrio_vulnificus_01

After a young boy was infected with Vibrio, a type of flesh-eating bacteria recently near Ocean City, health officials say this case is rare and local waterways are still safe to swim in.

The boy’s mother, Brittany Carey, described what happened to her son in a June 29 Facebook post. According to Carey, her son was swimming in the Sinepuxent Bay just north of the Harry Kelley Memorial Bridge between West Ocean City and downtown.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Microbiology, Uncategorized, Vibrio, Vibrio vulnificans, Vibrio vulnificus, Water, water microbiology