The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Often called “the voice of CDC,” the MMWR series is the agency’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations.
MMWR readership predominantly consists of physicians, nurses, public health practitioners, epidemiologists and other scientists, researchers, educators, and laboratorians – and, at least one lawyer. The data in the weekly MMWR are provisional, based on weekly reports to CDC by state health departments.
Botulism – 13 foodborne cases thus far in 2014 – not broken down by state.
Hepatitis A – 12 reported cases – Ohio (4), Maryland (1), North Carolina (1), California (1), Oregon (1), Washington (2) and Texas (2) – in the current week, bring the yearly total to 1,046.
Salmonella – 464 reported cases – Maine (1), Vermont (1), New York (14), Pennsylvania (12), Michigan (1), Ohio (21), Kansas (2), Missouri (9), Nebraska (3), Delaware (1), Florida (103), Georgia, (13), Maryland (20), North Carolina (43), South Carolina (8), Alabama (1), Tennessee (7), Arkansas (11), Oklahoma (8), Texas (104), Arizona, (4), Colorado (9), Idaho (4), Montana (1), California (44), Hawaii (2) and Washington (17) – in the current week, bring the yearly total to 44,651. For Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia you may well be seeing the tail end of an 11 state Salmonella sprout outbreak that has sickened 87.
Shiga toxin – Producing E. coli (O157:H7 and other STEC) – 50 reported cases – Maine (1), Vermont (1), New York (5), Pennsylvania (4), Ohio (4), Nebraska (3), Florida (4), Maryland (3), North Carolina (4), Tennessee (2) Oklahoma (2), Idaho (1), California (2), Oregon (2) and Washington (19)– in the current week, bring the yearly total to 4,758. For what it is worth, 19 ill in one week in Washington seems a bit concerning.
Shigella – 215 reported cases – New Jersey (1), New York (22), Pennsylvania (2), Michigan (2), Ohio (12), Missouri (43), Nebraska (1), Delaware (1), D.C. (1), Florida (44), Georgia (18), Maryland (4), North Carolina (4), South Carolina (2), Virginia (3), Alabama (6), Kentucky (4), Mississippi (4), Tennessee (16), Arkansas (8), Louisiana (3), Oklahoma (1), Texas (45), Arizona (6), Colorado (1), Montana (4), California (9) and Washington (3) – in the current week, bring the yearly total to 16,942.
I had not noticed before that two-foodborne pathogens, Campylobacter and Listeria seem to be unaccounted for by MMWR although they are tracked by FoodNet. I would like to know why especially given that the CDC itself has noted that the number of outbreaks caused by Campylobacter increased from 15 outbreaks in 2009 to 25 in 2010, 30 in 2011, and 37 in 2012. During 2011 and 2012, 37 outbreaks were linked to foods with unpasteurized (raw) milk was responsible for the largest number of outbreaks. For Listeria, the CDC has noted that Listeriosis (infection with Listeria monocytogenes) was added to the list of nationally notifiable diseases in 2001. And, according to the CDC, Listeria monocytogenes is estimated to cause nearly 1,600 illnesses each year in the United States; more than 1,400 related hospitalizations and 250 related deaths occur.
I think some reader will help me with the missing bugs?
And, someone did – Hidden on the first page of the report was Listeria with nine for current week from Pennsylvania (2), Maryland (1), Florida (1), Oklahoma (1), Texas (1), Colorado (1), Washington (1) and Oregon (1) with a total of 609 2014.