States with Outbreak-Associated Cases of Salmonella

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in Pennsylvania and other state health departments and the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund infections in humans. These human illnesses have been linked with dry pet food produced by Mars Petcare US at a single manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health-care providers.

As of September 4, 2007, 62 persons infected with the same strain of Salmonella Schwarzengrund have been reported to CDC from 18 states: Pennsylvania (26 cases), New York (8 cases), Ohio (6 cases), Massachusetts (5 cases), Maine (2 cases), North Dakota (2 cases), Virginia (2 cases), Alabama (1 case), California (1 case), Delaware (1 case), Illinois (1 case), Kentucky (1 case), Maryland (1 case), Michigan (1 case), Minnesota (1 case), New Jersey (1 case), North Carolina (1 case), and Wisconsin (1 case). Of the ill persons for whom an age is available, 39% were one year of age or younger. Of ill persons for whom clinical information is available, 32% developed bloody diarrhea and 10 (25%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.