The CDC announced today a total of 160 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly have been reported from 20 states and the District of Columbia.
The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (6), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (6), Illinois (14), Louisiana (3), Maryland (14), Massachusetts (23), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), New Jersey (8), New York(30), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (6), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (4), Virginia (9), and Wisconsin (14).
26 ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health agencies indicate that a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation is the likely source of this outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly infections. Nakaochi Scrape is tuna backmeat that is scraped from the bones of tuna and may be used in sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and similar dishes. The product looks like raw ground tuna.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that “it is likely many more illnesses have occurred than those reported.” If applying a previous CDC estimated ratio of non-reported salmonellosis cases to reported cases (38.6), one would arrive at an estimated 6,176 illnesses from this outbreak. Voetsch, et al. (2004-04-15). “FoodNet Estimate of the Burden of Illness Caused by Nontyphoidal Salmonella Infections in the United States”. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2004; 38:S3.