botulismOne person is dead, and 23 others are being treated for botulism at Fairfield Medical Center.

Health officials say all of the people who are ill attended a potluck at Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church Sunday.

Health officials report 50 to 60 people attended the potluck.

Botulism is a rare paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin, and can be foodborne. The hospital says a neurologist determined a patient had botulism Tuesday morning, and a short time later, two other cases were identified. All of the patients came in to the Emergency Department at Fairfield Medical Center, but the hospital says several have been transferred to other medical facilities.

All of the people affected had symptoms that included double vision, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, and blurred vision. Doctors are working on getting an anti-toxin from the Centers for Disease Control to treat the patients.

The Fairfield Medical Center is reminding the community that botulism is not contagious, so there is no threat to the community. But medical officials are encouraging anyone who was at the potluck to come to the emergency department. The medical center has also set up an emergency hotline to answer questions at 740-687-8053.

map-04-21-2015-fullCase Count Update

As of April 21, 2015, a total of ten patients infected with several strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from four states: Arizona (1), Kansas (5), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (3). Illness onset dates ranged from January 2010 through January 2015. The patients with illness onsets ranging from 2010-2014 were identified through a retrospective review of the PulseNet database for DNA fingerprints that were similar to isolates collected from Blue Bell ice cream samples. Since the last update on April 8, 2015, two additional patients, one each from Arizona and Oklahoma, were confirmed to be a part of the outbreak by whole genome sequencing. All ten (100%) patients were hospitalized. Three deaths were reported from Kansas.

One additional isolate from a patient with listeriosis is undergoing further molecular laboratory testing to determine whether this illness may be related to this outbreak. Results of this testing will be reported once they are available. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify any other ill persons that may be part of this outbreak.

Investigation Update

On April 20, 2015, Blue Bell Creameries voluntarily recalled all of its products currently on the market made at all of its facilities, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen snacks, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Blue Bell announced this recall after sampling by the company revealed that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream half gallons produced on March 17, 2015 and March 27, 2015 contained the bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes was previously found in other Blue Bell products. CDC recommends that consumers do not eat any Blue Bell brand products, and that institutions and retailers do not serve or sell them.

635642012386968382-Pho-TamThe Boise Central District Health Department on Thursday suspended the food establishment license of Pho Tam restaurant, located at 1098 N. Orchard St., linked to five cases of Salmonella poisoning.  Including a young boy who was hospitalized and ill for weeks.

Pho Tam was shut down after health inspectors found two critical violations of food safety regulations and two other violations.

“Due to the violations identified today, we determined they were not demonstrating proper practices to prevent foodborne illness so we suspended their food establishment license,” health department spokeswoman Christine Myron said in an email sent to The Idaho Statesman.

The closure order came just a day after health department officials held one-on-one education training with the Vietnamese restaurant’s employees on proper food safety procedures.

Pho Tam has 15 days to contact the health department to request a compliance conference to discuss with owner Long Doan the major risk factors that were found and develop a plan to control the risk factors that could make customers sick.

At an inspection last June, health inspectors found five violations, two of them critical. The restaurant was written up for inadequate hand-washing facilities for workers and improper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces, both critical violations. The other violations dealt with thermometers, dishwashing machinery and the restaurant’s physical facilities. Two follow-up inspections in July found only one violation, dealing with the physical facilities. No violations were detected during a July 23 inspection.

The strain that sickened Pho Tam’s customers, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, is relatively rare.

7492253_GThe New Mexico Department of Health is cooperating with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on an investigation of two patients who are hospitalized in Texas with suspected botulism. The source is currently being investigated but is likely contaminated food. The patients are two adults from Lea County.

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by a nerve toxin that causes paralysis. All healthcare providers should consider botulism in patients presenting with the following signs and symptoms:

Double vision
Blurred vision
Drooping eyelids
Slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing
Dry mouth
Muscle weakness/descending paralysis
Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

If untreated, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles, arms, legs, and trunk with subsequent death. Physicians should consider the diagnosis if physical examination suggest botulism.

The New Mexico Department of Health recommends:

If you or someone you know experiences any of the symptoms listed above immediately seek professional medical care.

All clinicians be alert for cases of botulism and consult New Mexico Department of Health for all suspect cases.

Report any suspect case to the Department of Health 24/7/365 at: 505-827-0006 so that antitoxin can be obtained as soon as possible if indicated.

7492074_GWBTV South Carolina reports that The spinach that was served at ten Lancaster County Schools has been recalled.

The 10 schools included in the recall are A.R. Rucker Middle, Brooklyn Springs Elementary, Buford Elementary, Buford High, Erwin Elementary, Harrisburg Elementary, Heath Springs Elementary, Indian Land Elementary, Indian Land Middle and McDonald Green Elementary.

Letters have been sent out to the parents of students who attend schools impacted by the recall.

The Lancaster County School District said they received a notice this week from one of its product providers about the spinach recall.

Taylor Farms’ spinach has been recalled because it may have been contaminated with a bacteria that can cause Listeriosis.

“So far, no one in our schools or any of the other customers who received and used the spinach has reported any illness,” superintendent Gene Moore said. “Despite that, we wanted to alert parents in case their children showed symptoms of Listeriosis.”

The school district released the following list of symptoms:

  • If a person develops a Listeria infection, he/she may experience fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.
  • Symptoms may begin a few days after the person has eaten contaminated food, but it may take as long as two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin. The incubation period is usually one day to three weeks.
  • If the Listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion or changes in alertness, loss of balance and convulsions.
  • Pregnant women typically experience fever and other non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue and aches. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to life-threatening complications for the baby.

You are encouraged to see a doctor if any of the following happen:

  • If a person has eaten food recalled because of a Listeria outbreak, he/she should pay close attention to any possible signs or symptoms of illness and contact his/her Health Care Provider.
  • If a person experiences symptoms indicating possible nervous system involvement, the person should seek emergency care immediately.

ucm443467Conway Import Co., Inc. is recalling Conway Organic Sesame Ginger Dressing and Conway Citrus Organic Vinaigrette Dressing because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Product was distributed in Illinois, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Texas through direct deliveries.

The products were packed in plastic gallon jars with the mfg. code printed on the top of the cap and the cardboard shipping container.

Conway Organic Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe Code N-22

MFG.CODE DATE: 28814….363014….030015….051015

Conway Citrus Organic Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe Code L-18

MFG.CODE DATE: 276014….337014

There have been no illnesses reported to date.

This recall was a result of a recall by FRONTIER CO-OP for a possible health risk from ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER.

Screen Shot 2015-04-17 at 10.17.44 AMSchnuck Markets, Inc. of St. Louis, Mo. is recalling its Chef’s Express California Pasta Salad sold in its Deli/Chef’s Express departments April 2 – April 14, 2015 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting in the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.

The product was distributed to 99 Schnucks stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The product would have been labeled “Chef’s Express California Pasta Salad” and sold by weight through the company’s Deli/Chef’s Express departments.

No illnesses have been reported to date related to the consumption of this product.

This recall is a result of Taylor Farms (Salina, Calif.) recall of fresh, flat leaf spinach due to the possible contamination of Salmonella . This spinach is an ingredient in Schnucks California Pasta Salad. Schnucks has ceased sale of the California Pasta Salad at this time.

Salmonella1According to The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture a warning that milk from the Breezy Meadows Dairy, which is located at 2457 Stumptown Road, has tested positive for Salmonella.

The sample that tested positive was collected during required routine sampling by a commercial laboratory on April 7, according to the department. The dairy packages raw milk in unlabeled plastic one- and half-gallon containers, and sold approximately 80 gallons between April 7 and April 15.

The department said it is not aware of any illnesses related to the incident, but that anyone who consumed raw milk from Breezy Meadows Dairy and has symptoms should consult their physician, visit their local health center or call 877-PA HEALTH (714-3258).

“Symptoms of salmonellosis usually appear within 12 to 72 hours after consumption and include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and vomiting that can last anywhere from four to seven days,” the department said.

Dairy owner Ben K. Stoltzfus has been ordered to stop sale of all raw milk until further notice, the department said. Two samples taken at least 24 hours apart must test negative for pathogens before the farm can resume raw milk sales.

Pennsylvania law allows farms to sell raw — aka unpasteurized — milk, but requires them to be permitted and inspected by the department to reduce associated health risks, the department said.

Owner Ben K. Stoltzfus has been ordered to stop sale of all raw milk until further notice, the department said. Two samples taken at least 24 hours apart must test negative for pathogens before the farm can resume raw milk sales.

1410892170000-HannafordHannaford Supermarkets and Superior Nuts & Candy of Chicago, Ill., announced Thursday the recall of pine nuts due to its potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The 4-ounce packages of pines nuts are sold in store produce departments with a clearly packaged front and tan-colored label on the back. The back label lists “Pine Nuts” as the only ingredient and has the UPC number 72543920016 with a “best by” date of any date from Oct. 22, 2015 through Dec. 27, 2015. (Specific dates that would be listed on the packages are included below.)

As a result of this recall, these items have been removed from the shelves at Hannaford stores. Customers who have purchased this item are urged not to eat it and to return the item to a Hannaford store for a full refund.

The specific dates listed on package and in scope of this recall are: Oct. 22, 2015, Oct. 27, 2015, Nov. 6, 2015, Nov. 9, 2015, Nov. 17, 2015, Nov. 26, 2015, Dec. 3, 2015, Dec. 6, 2015, Dec. 13, 2015, Dec. 16, 2015, Dec. 17, 2015, Dec. 19, 2015, Dec. 20, 2015, Dec. 24, 2015, Dec. 25, 2015, Dec. 27, 2015.

20110626-163727-pic-206177674_t770The Vancouver Columbian report that the Spanish Sonrise Dairy in Yacolt Washington is recalling raw milk and cream products after routine testing revealed listeria monocytogenes contamination.

After learning of the contamination, the owners have decided to close the dairy.

Routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture found the dairy’s raw cream was contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. As a result, the dairy is voluntarily recalling all raw cow milk, goat milk and cream with expiration dates between April 16 and 21. The dairy is recalling the milk as a precaution. No milk tested positive for the bacteria.

The products were sold at Amboy Market, Sonrise Market in Dollars Corner, New Seasons Market in Vancouver, Camas Produce and Arnada Naturals in Vancouver. The milk is sold in gallon and half-gallon plastic containers. The cream is sold in pint and quart plastic containers.