Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/fs/food-disease/news/jun1713foodscan.html
FOOD OUTBREAK SCAN: Berry-linked hepatitis outbreak, hedgehog Salmonella outbreak wrap-up
Jun 17, 2013
Frozen berry hepatitis A outbreak grows to 106
Seven more infections have been reported in an acute hepatitis A outbreak connected to an organic frozen berry mix, boosting the total to 106 so far, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today. The number of states affected remained at eight, all in the Southwest. Based on information from 94 patients, 47 (50%) were hospitalized and 76 (81%) reported eating Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix from Costco, though it was also sold at Harris Teeter stores. The most recent illness onset was Jun 8. Costco has notified members who bought the products since Feb 13. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started inspecting Townsend's processing facility in Fairview, Ore., and it has finalized a protocol for testing berries for hepatitis A and will begin testing samples, including the frozen blend. The company recalled the products on Jun 3. Early analysis suggests that the outbreak strain is genotype 1B, which is rarely seen in the Americas. The same genotype was seen earlier this year in a frozen berry outbreak in Europe and a similar one in British Columbia in 2012. However, the CDC said so far there is no evidence that the three outbreaks are related.
Jun 17 CDC outbreak update
Final total for hedgehog-linked Salmonella outbreak at 26
The CDC recently issued its final report on a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to pet hedgehogs. Three more patients were infected since the last update in mid April, raising the total to 26 cases, the CDC said in a Jun 14 report. The number of affected states also rose by 3, pushing that number to 12. The new cases were reported by Louisiana, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The CDC said that although patient ages ranged from 1 to 91, about a third were children age 10 or younger. Eight people were hospitalized, and one death was reported. The outbreak was first reported on Sep 6, 2012. Investigations linked the infections to contact with pet hedgehogs purchased from multiple sources in different states. The CDC said no other outbreak updates are planned but warned that contact with hedgehogs continues to be a source of salmonellosis.
Jun 14 CDC final outbreak update
FOOD OUTBREAK SCAN: Berry-linked hepatitis outbreak, hedgehog Salmonella outbreak wrap-up
Jun 17, 2013
Frozen berry hepatitis A outbreak grows to 106
Seven more infections have been reported in an acute hepatitis A outbreak connected to an organic frozen berry mix, boosting the total to 106 so far, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today. The number of states affected remained at eight, all in the Southwest. Based on information from 94 patients, 47 (50%) were hospitalized and 76 (81%) reported eating Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix from Costco, though it was also sold at Harris Teeter stores. The most recent illness onset was Jun 8. Costco has notified members who bought the products since Feb 13. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started inspecting Townsend's processing facility in Fairview, Ore., and it has finalized a protocol for testing berries for hepatitis A and will begin testing samples, including the frozen blend. The company recalled the products on Jun 3. Early analysis suggests that the outbreak strain is genotype 1B, which is rarely seen in the Americas. The same genotype was seen earlier this year in a frozen berry outbreak in Europe and a similar one in British Columbia in 2012. However, the CDC said so far there is no evidence that the three outbreaks are related.
Jun 17 CDC outbreak update
Final total for hedgehog-linked Salmonella outbreak at 26
The CDC recently issued its final report on a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to pet hedgehogs. Three more patients were infected since the last update in mid April, raising the total to 26 cases, the CDC said in a Jun 14 report. The number of affected states also rose by 3, pushing that number to 12. The new cases were reported by Louisiana, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The CDC said that although patient ages ranged from 1 to 91, about a third were children age 10 or younger. Eight people were hospitalized, and one death was reported. The outbreak was first reported on Sep 6, 2012. Investigations linked the infections to contact with pet hedgehogs purchased from multiple sources in different states. The CDC said no other outbreak updates are planned but warned that contact with hedgehogs continues to be a source of salmonellosis.
Jun 14 CDC final outbreak update