In the last three months we have been tracking more than a few Salmonella outbreaks, like S. Typhi in mamey pulp, S. Hartford and S. Baildon at Taco Bell, S, Arizonae in rattlesnake cakes, and on and on. We have also seen more than a few S. Enteritidis cases, but as it is one of
Fourfold Spike per week in Salmonella Enteritidis Cases Since May Likely Linked to Wright County Egg
On July 9, 2009, FDA published in the Federal Register a final rule that established a regulation part 118 (21 CFR part 118) entitled “Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Transportation, and Storage.” The egg rule in part 118 requires shell egg producers to implement measures to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) from contaminating eggs on the farm and from further growth during storage and transportation, and requires these producers to maintain records concerning their compliance with the rule and to register with FDA. According to the FDA “as many as 79,000 illnesses and 30 deaths due to consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis may be avoided each year with new food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers.” See the “Egg Rule” that went into effect July 9, 2010.
In May 2010, CDC identified a nationwide increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates with PFGE pattern JEGXX01.0004 uploaded to PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. The increase represents approximately a four-fold increase over the expected number of reported isolates of this particular PFGE pattern. Approximately 200 isolates were uploaded to PulseNet on a weekly basis during late June and early July compared to an expected ~50 uploads a week on average during this same period in the previous 5 years. Many states have reported increases of this pattern since May.Continue Reading Fourfold Spike per week in Salmonella Enteritidis Cases Since May Likely Linked to Wright County Egg
CDC Salmonella Enteritidis: Surveillance Data and Policy Implications in Eggs
Thanks to Alejandro Pérez, MPH and the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this great PowerPoint on Salmonella Enteritidis and Eggs in America.
Campylobacter
Campylobacter is the second most common cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States after Salmonella. Over 3,000 cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2003, or 12.6 cases for each 100,000 persons in the population. Many more cases go undiagnosed and unreported, with estimates as high as 2 to 4 million cases per year. It is estimated that each case costs $920 on average due to medical and productivity (lost wages) expenses with an annual total cost of $1.2 billion.
Chicken is the most common food implicated. Any raw poultry—chicken, turkey, duck, goose, game fowl—meat and its juices may contain Campylobacter including organic and “free-range” products. Other foods include unpasteurized milk, undercooked meats such as beef, pork, lamb, and livestock offal, and occasionally shellfish, fresh produce, and eggs.
Most cases of Campylobacter infection occur as isolated, sporadic events, and are not usually part of large outbreaks. But, very large outbreaks (>1,000 illnesses) of campylobacteriosis have been documented, most often from consumption of contaminated milk or unchlorinated water supplies.Continue Reading Campylobacter
Salmonella
Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is the second most common foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are foodborne-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. Salmonellosis is more common in the warmer months of the year.
Salmonella infection occurs when the bacteria are ingested, typically from food derived from infected food-animals, but it can also occur by ingesting the feces of an infected animal or person. Food sources include raw or undercooked eggs/egg products, raw milk or raw milk products, contaminated water, meat and meat products, and poultry. Raw fruits and vegetables contaminated during slicing have been implicated in several foodborne outbreaks.
Seven Salmonella Enteriditis cases in Minnesota linked to Wright County Egg
Illnesses in at least seven people in Minnesota are connected with a multi-state recall of eggs from an Iowa producer due to contamination with Salmonella, state health officials said today. The Salmonella Enteriditis cases were identified in two restaurant outbreaks in May and July, in which eggs were identified as the likely source. Eggs were traced back by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to Wright County Egg of Galt, IA. Restaurant clusters with the same strain have been identified in additional states.
Health officials emphasized that while seven cases in Minnesota have been linked with the recall, there are potentially many more cases that could be involved. So far this year, Minnesota has received more reports of Salmonella Enteriditis infections of this strain than were reported in previous years, according to Kirk Smith, a foodborne illness supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health. It is estimated that for every confirmed case of Salmonella, there are approximately 38 unconfirmed cases. Salmonella Enteriditis is one of the most common strains of Salmonella circulating.
The eggs affected by this recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. These companies distribute nationwide. Continue Reading Seven Salmonella Enteriditis cases in Minnesota linked to Wright County Egg
Taco Bell Salmonella Lawsuit to be filed Monday
Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin Lead the Illness Count
An Ohio victim of the Salmonella outbreaks linked to Taco Bell will file a food poisoning lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas of Scioto County, Ohio today. The lawsuit will be filed against the food chain parent company Yum! Brands on behalf of a Scioto
Shigella
Shigella is a bacterium that can cause sudden and severe diarrhea (gastroenteritis) in humans. Shigellosis is the name of the disease that Shigella causes. The illness is also known as “bacillary dysentery.” Shigella bacteria can infect the intestinal tract after the ingestion of relatively few organisms. This is why shigellosis is the most communicable of the bacterial-induced diarrheas.
The source of Shigella bacteria is the excrement (feces) of an infected individual that is ultimately ingested by another person. The infectious material is spread to new cases by person-to-person contact or via contaminated food or water. Approximately 20% of the nearly 450,000 cases of shigellosis that occur annually in the U.S are foodborne-related. Generally, the food preparer is the individual who contaminates the food, but food may also become contaminated during processing. Contamination of drinking water by Shigella is a problem that more often occurs in the developing world, but swimming pools and beaches in the U.S. can become contaminated by infected individuals. No group of individuals is immune to shigellosis, but certain individuals are at increased risk, particularly small children. Persons infected with HIV experience shigellosis much more commonly than other individuals.
Wright County Egg Recall due to Salmonella enteritidis Risk
Eggs produced by the farms of Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, have been recalled because of potential salmonella contamination. Eggs affected by the recall were distributed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and other states. The eggs are packaged under these brand names in varying carton sizes: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale
It is Two years past time to test for, and deem adulterants, non-E. coli O157:H7s
I was reading Kim Archer’s story this morning, “E. coli outbreak’s effects remain in Locust Grove,” in the Tulsa World about the largest E. coli O111 outbreak ever. The 2008 outbreak sickened at least 341 people, killed 1 and sent more that 70 to the hospital, many with life-threatening injuries – many still suffer the