FOOD OUTBREAK NEWS SCAN: More Salmonella cases likely linked to mangoes, cholera in Cuba

Aug 29, 2012

More cases in 16-state Salmonella outbreak likely linked to mangoes
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today it is collaborating with state and federal partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections that appear to be linked to eating mangoes. So far 103 infections with the same outbreak strain from 16 states, most of them from California, have been reported to PulseNet, a national molecular subtyping network for identifying foodborne bacteria, since Jul 1. The number represents two new cases since yesterday. The CDC said the California Department of Public Health is leading the investigation. Among 69 patients with available information, 25 (36%) have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The latest illness onset was Aug 11. The outbreak strain matches the genetic pattern seen in Canadian infections that are related to a recall of mangoes from Mexico. The CDC added, however, that the pattern has been seen in PulseNet before, typically causing two or three infections a month, so some of the US cases may not be part of the outbreak. State health officials who have interviewed sick patients have found that mangoes are a likely source of the infections. Many of California's sick patients bought mangoes at Hispanic markets or grocery stores. So far the investigation has not identified a specific type or source of the mangoes, so officials don't have specific advice for consumers yet.
Aug 29 CDC outbreak announcement
Aug 28 CIDRAP News story "Mangoes from Mexico suspected in 101 US Salmonella infections"

Cuba declares cholera outbreak over
Cuban officials have declared that its cholera outbreak, which began in early July, is over after sickening 417 people, 3 fatally, the Miami Herald reported yesterday. The country's Public Health Ministry said the overwhelming majority of cases were in the city of Manzanillo in eastern Granma province. The agency said no new cases have been reported in more than 10 days. The 417 cases are far more than the government's last official report, which cited 158 cases on Jul 13, and the last report by Granma health officials, who confirmed 263 cases 2 weeks ago.
Aug 28 Miami Herald story

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