A total of 907 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona were reported from 40 states. A list of states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Case Count Map page.
Among people for whom information was available, illnesses started on dates ranging from July 3, 2015 to February 29, 2016. Ill people ranged in age from less than 1 year to 99, with a median age of 18. Forty-nine percent of ill people were children younger than 18 years. Fifty-six percent of ill people were female. Among 720 people with available information, 204 (28%) were hospitalized. Six deaths were reported from Arizona (1), California (3), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (1).
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations identified imported cucumbers from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce as the likely source of the infections in this outbreak.
Several state health and agriculture departments collected and tested cucumbers from retail locations and isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona. Information indicated that these cucumbers were distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. Additionally, testing of cucumbers collected from the Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce facility isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona.
Traceback information collected from the 11 illness clusters indicated that cucumbers eaten by ill people were imported from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.
Two recalls of garden variety cucumbers distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce were announced because the cucumbers were likely contaminated with Salmonella. Recalled cucumbers were grown in Baja California, Mexico and distributed to many U.S. states. On September 4, 2015, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold under the Limited Edition brand label from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015. On September 11, 2015, Custom Produce Sales voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold under the Fat Boy brand label starting August 1, 2015. These cucumbers were sent to Custom Produce Sales from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.