Canal water contamination with Escherichia coli O157:H7 near a Yuma, Ariz., romaine lettuce growing region might be linked to a large cattle facility, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday in an update.
In an update yesterday on a Cyclospora outbreak linked to McDonald's salads, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 109 more cases, raising the total to 395.
The number of affected states remained at 15, and the latest illness onset was Jul 20. So far 16 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that tests involving a newly validated method to detect Cyclospora in fresh produce have confirmed the parasite in an unused package of expired salad mix processed by Fresh Express in Streamwood, Ill., that had been distributed to McDonald's.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health ministry announced yesterday that it has received reports of 25 fever cases with symptoms similar to Ebola in North Kivu province in the eastern part of the country.
In a statement, it said the affected area is in the Mangina health district.
Norovirus and Salmonella cause the most outbreaks and illnesses in food outbreaks in the United States, but Listeria, Salmonella, and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) lead to the most serious illnesses and deaths, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists reporting in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
In an update yesterday that came a day after the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) Ebola outbreak was declared over, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it now considers the risk to the region and the rest of the world as low.
In the latest developments involving two separate Cyclospora outbreaks, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 102 more cases linked to McDonald’s salads and 10 more cases linked to Del Monte fresh vegetable trays. So far, there's no evidence to suggest the two outbreaks are related, the CDC said.
Officials warn the strain might be widespread in the industry.
So far 21 people in 5 states have been sickened in the outbreak, and 5 patients have been hospitalized.
Federal health officials are investigating a Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak linked to fresh crab meat imported from Venezuela that has sickened 12 people in three states and the District of Columbia.
