Outbreak of uncommon Salmonella strain probed in North Carolina

Lisa Schnirring
Foodborne Disease
Salmonella

Apr 30, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Health officials in North Carolina and their federal partners are investigating an outbreak of an uncommon Salmonella strain that has sickened 34 people who visited or live in Buncombe County since the end of February.

The Buncombe County Health Department (BCHD) listed the strain as Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi B and said it has a genetic fingerprint that is not common.

In a press release today, BCHD officials said lab tests have not yet conclusively identified the source of the outbreak. Gibbie Harris, MPH, the county's health director, said in a statement that until the cause is identified, officials are implementing broad control measures focused on food establishments.

Based on preliminary tests, BCHD environmental health specialists have recommended control measures to the county's food establishments, and the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association is working with the health department to educate food workers on ways to prevent disease spread.

Harris said further tests to characterize the outbreak strain are underway, which may shed more light on ways to control the outbreak. She urged the public to wash their hands before preparing food and see a doctor if they have symptoms. The county launched a hotline number today to offer automated information about the outbreak and connect people experiencing symptoms to a communicable disease nurse.

Symptoms, which can include bloody diarrhea, fever, headache, and abdominal pain, can occur 1 to 10 days after exposure and last 4 to 7 days. Harris said Salmonella Paratyphi B infections may sometimes last longer.

In an earlier statement, the BCDH said lab studies so far suggest that the outbreak strain is unique and has an uncommon genetic fingerprint. It said Salmonella Paratyphi B is found in the intestines of humans, and person-to-person spread can occur from consuming food or water contaminated with the feces of a sick person or a carrier. Salmonella Paratyphi B infection typically begins about 6 days after exposure, but sometimes as long as 30 days after exposure, the agency said.

In early February the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B infections linked to small pet turtles that sickened at least 132 people in 18 states. In early 2010, health officials in Hawaii reported an Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak linked to eating imported raw ahi tuna, which sickened at least 13 people.

In a post on ProMed mail, the Internet-based reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, a moderator wrote that the serotype is likely the d-tartrate-fementing S enterica serovar Paratyphi B dT+, sometimes referred to as Salmonella Java. The organism has well characterized animal reservoirs and has been involved in two recent outbreaks in the United States and one in Europe.

See also:

Apr 30 BCDH press release

BCDH outbreak announcement

Feb 3 CDC Note from the Field

Apr 28 ProMed mail post

Apr 22, 2010, Hawaii Department of Health press release

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. USDA suspends southern border livestock imports over New World screwworm threat

    As cattle detections track northward, Mexico recently reported its first human case.

    Lisa Schnirring
    screwworm larva

  3. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  5. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  6. Data suggest COVID-19 reinfections less likely to cause long COVID

    The risk of long COVID was two to three times higher after the initial infection (14.8%) than after first (5.8%) or second (5.3%) reinfections.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    LONG COID

  7. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  8. Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area

    Two cases near the Dallas area are now included in the large outbreak, which now totals 717 cases.

    Lisa Schnirring

  9. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  10. Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster

    Since 2023, the country has ramped up MERS-CoV testing as part of sentinel surveillance.

    Lisa Schnirring
    hospital isolation

Our underwriters