News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – In a recent update on pandemic influenza preparedness planning, the US government reported meeting more than 90% of a long list of objectives it set for itself about 6 months ago.

The report charts progress on a wide range of preparedness measures, from shoring up laboratory capabilities to planning for distribution of critical medical supplies and preparing checklists for various sectors of the economy.

(CIDRAP News) – A case-control investigation points to lettuce as the likeliest source of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Taco Bell restaurants, federal officials said today.

(CIDRAP News) – The cause of an Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Taco Bell restaurants remained elusive today as the number of cases increased to 67 in 5 states, according to federal officials.

(CIDRAP News) – The number of people affected by an Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Taco Bell restaurants has climbed to 62 in 6 states, and it's too early to blame the outbreak on green onions, federal officials said today.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday it was joining the probe of a growing Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeast.

(CIDRAP News) – An outbreak of Escherichia coli infections in people who ate at 11 Taco Bell restaurants in New York and New Jersey has sickened more than 3 dozen people in 3 states and prompted the company to remove green onions from its outlets nationwide.

Editor's note: The Salmonella serotype involved in this outbreak was incorrectly listed as Norfolk in this story when first published.

(CIDRAP News) – Federal officials are investigating a second Salmonella outbreak linked to restaurant tomatoes that occurred over the summer and early fall, sickening 106 people in 19 states.

(CIDRAP News) – Restaurants that have a certified kitchen manager (CKM) seem to have a lower risk of serving food that triggers infectious illnesses, according to a study comparing restaurants that were involved in disease outbreaks with those that were not.

(CIDRAP News) – Sampling by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the last 5 years has shown a fourfold increase in the number of broiler chicken carcasses contaminated with Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis, a strain previously associated mainly with eggs.

(CIDRAP News) – Federal officials said today they have zeroed in on restaurant tomatoes as the cause of a recent nationwide Salmonella outbreak.