The CDC reported today that a total of 449 people infected with one of two confirmed outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia.
Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup strain. Illnesses with the Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup strains started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to June 4, 2024. Of 360 people with information available, 125 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The FDA collected samples at the grower in Florida and identified Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water. WGS determined that the Salmonella found in the water is the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that made people in this outbreak sick.
Additional soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. were positive for other strains of Salmonella. CDC and FDA are looking to see if these strains have caused illness in people.
As part of the Salmonella Africana investigation, officials in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture collected samples of cucumbers from several retail locations in the state. Testing identified Salmonella Bareilly, a different strain of Salmonella than the ones making people sick in this outbreak.