Salmonella Blog - Surveillance & analysis on salmonella news & outbreaks

Walworth County health officials have identified and linked at least a dozen cases of salmonella poisoning to the Walworth County Fair. The minor outbreak was traced back to the swine barn, said Pat Grove, health officer with the Walworth County Health and Human Services Department.

All 12 of the infected people, including one adult and 11 children between ages 4 and 17, have recovered. One victim was hospitalized overnight and since has been released.

Grove doesn't expect any other cases to be directly linked to the fair because the disease's incubation has passed.

Anti-bacterial hand-washing stations are set up at many of the animal barn entrances, and signs encourage fairgoers to wash after leaving animal barns. No food is allowed inside animal barns.
 

A disciple of the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill the United States Attorney for Oregon, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday. Catherine Jane Stubbs, known as Ma Shanti Bhadra, joins six other followers who earlier pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Charles Turner, according to the Associated Press.

Beginning in 1981, Rajneesh, a holy man from the Indian city of Pune, assembled a commune of some 7,000 adherents on a 100-square-mile ranch in Antelope, Ore.

The commune members plotted to take over the local county government in 1984, spiking local salad bars with salmonella in an effort to incapacitate non-Rajneeshee voters. The action sickened some 750 people and crippled the local economy as fear spread.

Besides the charge of conspiracy to kill, Stubbs also pleaded guilty to buying weapons in violation of federal firearms law.
 

The Montgomery County Health Department is investigating five confirmed cases of salmonella.

"Right now we don't have anything pointing to one particular place," county sanitarian Ron Posthauer said. "These could very well be home outbreaks."

Lang provided the following practices for reducing chances of contracting salmonella:

• Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or meat. Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked with no pink in the middle.
• Do not consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products.
• Wash produce thoroughly before eating. Simply running it under running water is not enough.
• Uncooked meat and poultry should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods and ready to eat foods.
• Wash hands between handling any food and food items.
• Wash hands after contact with animals and their feces.
• Wash hand after handling reptiles their aquariums, bowls, etc.
• Turtles are not appropriate for small children and should never be in the same house as an infant.
• Thoroughly clean hands, cutting boards and knives to avoid cross contamination.
   

The number of salmonella cases among children sickened after attending an etiquette class rose to 25 today.

Health officials don't expect to ever pinpoint the members-only club as the source of the outbreak. Investigators did target a food-handling practice at the club that "could potentially" have contributed to the infection of the fifth-graders who attended a September ninth banquet.

County health Director Colleen Bridger says the chicken wasn't cooked thoroughly.

Graham Bell, owner of The City Club of Gastonia, says the club now will either grill or bake chicken, but not do both for a meal as it did for the banquet.
 

A team of researchers in the newly-formed Department of Population Health at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a study to determine how to eliminate salmonella bacteria from the poultry production process.

"What we're trying to do is trace salmonella through the food chain, so we can identify at what point in the poultry industry we can introduce intervention measures most effectively," said John Maurer, associate professor of population health and head of the research team. "Knowing where the salmonella comes from is important so that we can reduce its transmission to the final product that the consumer eats."

The problem is that in chickens and many other animals salmonella rarely causes illness. Adult chickens can be carriers of the bacteria and yet appear perfectly healthy.

Funded by an $890,000, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the research team, in addition to Maurer, includes Charles Hofacre, professor, population health, UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; Michael P. Doyle, director, Center for Food Safety; Dana Cole, medical epidemiologist, Georgia Division of Public Health. The grant also will fund positions for several graduate students at the veterinary college who will handle the data analysis.
 

A Tolleson slaughtering and meatpacking business has been accused of operating without a license and selling meat that has tested positive for salmonella bacteria. Authorities said that they have obtained a court order forcing the southwest Valley company to close its doors.

Animals have been slaughtered in an open outdoor facility at the meat business and the carcasses left to hang for hours in an unrefrigerated environment, exposed to dust and insects, authorities said.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said the case involves "food and sanitary conditions that pose a danger to the public."

Criminal charges have been filed against the operator, Jose Merced Serrato-Maciel, 46. He has been charged with failure to obtain a slaughtering license, unlicensed sale of meat and failure to comply with the county health code, all misdemeanors. His business does not have a formal name.
 

Five more students have been sickened by salmonella that may have come from a restaurant where children were taking a dining etiquette lesson.

Gaston County Health Department officials confirmed the new cases of salmonella poisoning Thursday on top of the eight cases they confirmed Wednesday.

Officials have not identified the source of the outbreak, but a common link is a dinner Sept. 9 at the members-only City Club in Gastonia where students and staff ate chicken breast, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and a dessert.

Two children were hospitalized because of their illnesses but have since been released.
 

More than 70 children who ate dinner at a Gastonia restaurant Friday night showed symptoms consistent with salmonella, and two were admitted to a hospital for dehydration. Eight children have tested positive for salmonella so far, but numerous lab results are pending.

A group of mostly fifth-graders from various Gaston County elementary schools ate dinner Friday night at City Club of Gastonia. They were taking an etiquette class as part of the Junior Assembly of Gastonia program, which teaches etiquette, manners and dance to children in fifth through eighth grades in schools around the region.

Most children ate chicken, salad with ranch dressing, green beans, rolls, chocolate cake, tea and water.

Assistant Health Director Chris Dobbins stressed that health officials haven't found the source of the outbreak.
 

Helen J. Molchan, a registered nurse certified in infection control and director of employee health and infections control for Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar, offers these suggestions when it comes to hand washing:

Q: Where are the most germs found in the home, at work and in public?
A: In my opinion, the kitchen is the most contaminated area in the home. At work, shared computer keyboards and phones are probably the most contaminated. In public, contaminated locations include kitchens in restaurants and public restrooms.

Q: Is it true that the bulk of germs tend to hide where people least expect it?
A: It is the germs that we cannot see that are the most dangerous. People will often wash their hands if they see soil but tend to skip this process if the hands look clean. The kitchen counter may look clean, but could harbor salmonella from raw meat and chicken that is prepared on it or from a package that has leaked juices from fresh meat or chicken.

Q: What are some ways to prevent or lessen the spread of germs?
A: Good hand hygiene is the best defense against the spread of germs. Wash, wash, wash and make sure to use the convenient alcohol sanitizers that are available in all colors and scents. Make sure the product has at least 60 percent alcohol and make sure to read the label.

Q: Do gel sanitizers work?
A: Gel sanitizers work much better than soap and water. There is a lot of scientific data that supports the use of hand sanitizers. The CDC recommends that individuals use gel hand sanitizers any time there is no visible soil on the hands. They are much more effective than soap and water and more convenient. With these sanitizers you don't need water or towels, and they are sold in bottles that you can carry with you. They are a lifesaver in areas where water is not available.

Q: Is it worth using antibacterial products in the home to cut germs?
A: Yes. There are many soaps available that are antimicrobial; the most common ingredient is triclosan. Check the back of the label to make sure the soap contains this ingredient.

Q: Is it true that white and green teas help fight germs and prevent common infections?
A: There is no scientific data that supports this theory. Researchers currently are working on some studies, but no scientific data has been gathered yet.

Q: How long do germs live?
A: The only way to determine the life of a germ is to study the specimen in a laboratory with a technician monitoring it. Some bacteria live longer on surfaces than others. Spores can live up to 40 days on environmental surfaces. Some viruses only can live a few moments outside the body. The important thing to remember is all surfaces you touch may be contaminated. Wash your hands after touching them.
 

Almost 60 illegal turtles have been returned to the Upper Valley Mall and several people have called the health department reporting possible turtle-related salmonella after a stand selling red ear sliders was ordered closed Monday.

Clark County Health District officials are now manning the kiosk accepting the tiny reptiles that reportedly have been sold in nearby counties in the weeks prior to Clark County.

The turtles, with less than 4-inch-long shells, have been illegal to sell since 1975 because of the health risks involved. An employee of the pet stand told health officials he did not know how many turtles had been sold locally.

"We've received several calls today from people who have already sought out medical care or are seeking medical care today because of gastro-intestinal illnesses since the purchase of the turtles," Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said. He said the connection between the turtles and the illness has not been confirmed but he is notifying primary doctors in the area of the possibility.
 

As a precautionary measure, Orchid Island Juice Company of Fort Pierce, Florida, is voluntarily recalling fresh squeezed orange juice with an expiration code date of 9/15/05 thru 9/22/05, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Orchid Island Juice Company distributes fresh squeezed orange juice in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Consumers may have purchased or consumed the product through retail or foodservice establishments such as restaurants, hotels, resorts, or country clubs.

Orchid Island Juice Company's fresh squeezed orange juice can be identified by the Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company label as well as Albritton Fruit, Nino Salvaggio, Balducci's, Gourmet Garage, Zabar's and Ultimate label. Orange juice is sold in gallon, half gallon, quart, pint, 12 oz, and 8 oz sizes. The containers are made of plastic and are clear in color so the orange juice is visible. This recall is for only fresh squeezed orange juice product with an expiration date code of 9/15/05 thru 9/22/05.

No illnesses have been reported associated with this recall.
 

The FDA has advised processors and repackers that Majestic International Spice Corporation has been forced to recall its dried "Extra Fancy Basil" spice in 12.5 kilogram bags after traces of Salmonella were found.

The agency also said that it was concerned that the firm had not adequately alerted its suppliers to the problem. The only identification on the 12.5 kilogram paper bags is a white paper label stating "EXTRA FANCY BASIL 12.5 KGS."

The California-based company has now ceased the distribution of the product in question, and processors or repackers who received this product should discontinue using it and contact their local FDA office.
 

A recent recall of a Cold Stone Creamery's cake batter ice cream should serve as a reminder that ingredients that require cooking carry the risk of foodborne pathogens if left raw. During an investigation, the FDA confirmed that the sweet cream base of the ice cream was pasteurized, but the dry cake mix that was added to the base was labeled a baking mix by the manufacturer.

"The dry cake mix was labeled to indicate that it should be baked before using," said Elizabeth Andress, an extension food safety expert for the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan and California all had confirmed cases of Salmonella typhimurium illnesses from the ice cream. A case in Illinois was confirmed but is counted in Virginia, since that's where the person ate the ice cream.

"Remember that temptation to lick the cookie or cake batter beaters?" Andress asked. "Raw, unpasteurized eggs are another source of Salmonella bacteria. Unless you use pasteurized eggs, resist that temptation. Wait until the cookies or cakes have been baked to indulge, or you risk getting sick."