Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Has Killed Four and Sickened More than 700

A salmonella poona outbreak that now extends to 35 states has caused four deaths and more than 700 illnesses.

By late September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reports of three deaths and 445 illnesses, but that number has reached four deaths and 732 illnesses, the Washington Post reports. Two California produce distributors have recalled Mexican-grown cucumbers linked to the outbreak.

It can take up to a week for people to get sick after they have eaten food contaminated with salmonella and cucumbers have a shelf life of up to 14 days, so, even after the cucumbers were recalled, illnesses continue to be reported. The CDC notes that some people who bought tainted cucumbers may not have learned about the recall and thus may have unknowingly eaten contaminated produce.

Laboratory tests confirmed additional infections after the recall of “slicer” or “American” cucumbers—the dark green cucumbers usually sold in bulk displays in supermarkets. They measure seven to 10 inches long, with a diameter of 1.75 to 2.5 inches, the Washington Post reports. The recalled cucumbers were also sold to restaurants.

Arizona, California, Texas and Oklahoma have reported one death each in the outbreak. According to the CDC, 150 ill people have been hospitalized and more than half of the people sickened by salmonella poona are children.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, which usually develop within 12 to 72 hours of ingesting tainted food. The illness typically lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment, the CDC says. For some people, though, the illness can be serious and requires hospitalization. The infection can spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other parts of the body, requiring antibiotic treatment. Children under five, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of serious illness from salmonella.

There have been two cucumber recalls. On September 4, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego, California announced a voluntary recall of cucumbers, the Post reports. The cucumbers were distributed between August 1 and September 3, sold under the label “Limited Edition.” They were grown and packed by Rancho Don Juanito in Mexico. On September 11, Custom Produce Sales of Parlier, California recalled cucumbers grown in Baja California, sold under the “Fat Boy” label and distributed in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.

Any consumer who is uncertain whether cucumbers they purchased are included in the recall should contact the place of purchase. The CDC recommends that if a consumer has any doubt about whether cucumbers they bought are contaminated, it is safest to simply throw them away.

from Parker Waichman http://www.yourlawyer.com/blog/multistate-salmonella-outbreak-has-killed-four-and-sickened-more-than-700/