Salmonella Blog - Surveillance & analysis on salmonella news & outbreaks

As of August 27, 2010, a total of 44 individuals infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Chester have been reported from 18 states since April 11, 2010. The number of ill people identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AK (1), CA (5), CO (2), GA (8), IL (1), KY (1), MA (2), MN (2), MO (1), NC (1), OK (1), OR (2), SC (2), TN (1), TX (3), UT (3), VA (4), and WA (4). Among those for whom information is available about when symptoms started, illnesses began between April 4, 2010 and June 16, 2010. Case-patients ranged in age from <1 to 88 years old, and the median age was 36 years. Fifty-four percent of patients were female. Among the 43 patients with available hospitalization information, 16 (37%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Collaborative investigative efforts of officials in many local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice single-serve frozen entrées. During June 14-18, 2010, CDC and public health officials in multiple states conducted an epidemiologic study by comparing foods eaten by 19 ill and 22 well persons. Analysis of this study suggested that eating a Marie Callender's frozen meal was a source of illness. Ill persons (89%) were significantly more likely than well persons (14%) to report eating a frozen meal. All ill persons (100%) who ate frozen meals reported eating a Marie Callender's frozen meal.

Salmonella Paratyphi B illnesses from North and South Carolina, Tennessee and New York climbed to 46 as the Bruncombe County Health Department declared Similing Hara tempeh the source of the Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak.  Seven people have been hospitalized.  Blue Ridge Food Ventures, the shared use kitchen where Smiling Hara issued a press release stating that they are aware of the investigation, have ceased operation.  The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also announced today the voluntary recall of the 12-ounce packages of Smiling Hara unpasteurized soybean tempeh.  The company says anyone with packages marked with a best-by date of 7/11/12 through 10/25/12 should return the product. 

Two hundred forty-seven persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly have been reported from 24 states and the District of Columbia. The number of ill persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), California (2), Connecticut (9), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (10), Illinois (23), Louisiana (3), Maryland (24), Massachusetts (27), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (25), New York (39), North Carolina (4), Pennsylvania (20), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (4), Virginia (16), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (16).  Eleven persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga have been reported from 5 states. The number of ill persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga identified in each state is as follows: Georgia (2), New Jersey (2), New York (5), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1).   32 (18%) reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

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North and South Carolina, Tennessee and New York impacted.

The Buncombe County Department of Health North Carolina reports that 5 more cases of Salmonella Paratyphi B were identified over the weekend, bringing the total to 34, as of Monday, April 30, 2012. The local health department is working with NC Department of Public Health, Center for Disease Control, US Department of Agriculture and others to continue intensive testing, interviewing, and epidemiological investigation of the outbreak in order to squelch the spread of the disease. Cases still appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since February 28, 2012. A single source of infection has not been confirmed.

According to the Health Department:

As much as the public wants to know which foods or restaurants should be avoided, state and local health officials do not have final laboratory test results that would allow conclusive identification of a specific source of salmonella contamination.

According to the CDC, humans are one of the only known reservoir sources of Salmonella paratyphi B. Salmonella paratyphi B is most often acquired through consumption of water or food that has been contaminated by feces of an infected person or a chronic, asymptomatic carrier.

Worldwide some six million cases of Salmonella paratyphi are estimated to occur annually. However, only approximately 150 cases of Salmonella paratyphi are reported each year in the United States, most of which are in recent travelers.

The incubation period of Salmonella paratyphoid B is longer that other Salmonella with onset of infections ranging from 6–30 days. The onset of illness is increasing fatigue and a fever that increases daily from low-grade to as high by the third to fourth day of illness. A rash of rose-colored spots can occasionally be seen on the trunk. Untreated, the disease can last for a month. The serious complications of Salmonella paratyphoid B generally occur after 2–3 weeks of illness and may include intestinal hemorrhage or perforation, which can be life threatening.

Today the CDC announced that a total of 200 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Bareilly or Salmonella Nchanga have been reported from 21 states and the District of Columbia. All 200 cases are believed to be linked to sushi made with a raw yellowfin tuna product known as Nakaochi scrape.

190 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly have been reported from 21 states and the District of Columbia. The number of ill persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (8), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Illinois (15), Louisiana (3), Maryland (20), Massachusetts (24), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), New Jersey (18), New York (33), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (7), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (3), Texas (4), Virginia (9), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (15).

10 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga have been reported from 5 states. The number of ill persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga identified in each state is as follows: Georgia (2), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1).

28 ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

New Jersey has been hit the hardest in this most recent update with 11 new cases. Last week Boston saw a dramatic increase when 15 new cases were confirmed Massachusetts. Baltimore has confirmed at least 8 cases, and cities like New York City, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Hartford are sure to harbor a large percentage of the illnesses and hospitalizations that are associated with this Salmonella outbreak and recall in their respective states.