Multistate, cucumber-linked Salmonella outbreak rises to 449 cases

A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has now sickened at the very least 449 folks in 31 states and the District of Columbia, based on an replace yesterday from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), and untreated canal water might have performed a job.

The outbreak, with illness-onset dates starting from March 11 to June 4, entails two Salmonella strains—Africana and Braederup. Of the 449 case-patients, 234 have been contaminated with Salmonella Africana and 215 with the newly added Salmonella Braederup pressure. To this point, 125 folks have been hospitalized, however no deaths have been reported. 

The 2 outbreak strains have been initially being investigated individually, however the CDC and the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) mixed the investigations when it grew to become clear that they shared a number of similarities, together with the demographics of the unwell folks and the meals they reported consuming previous to their diseases. 

Florida grower recognized as one supply of outbreak

Epidemiologic, trace-back, and laboratory information have recognized cucumbers because the supply of the outbreaks. Of the 188 folks interviewed by state and native public well being officers, 129 (69%) reported consuming cucumbers within the week earlier than getting unwell. A trace-back investigation by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized Bedner Growers, Inc., in Florida as a provider of a few of the cucumbers concerned within the outbreak. 

Evaluation of untreated canal water on the grower recognized Salmonella Braederup, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) decided that it was the identical pressure that has sickened folks. Cucumbers from Bedner Growers are not in season and any offered beforehand are not on cabinets.

Whereas most individuals contaminated with Salmonella get better inside every week with out remedy, extra extreme instances might require antibiotics. WGS evaluation of micro organism from 214 case-patients discovered no predicted antibiotic resistance, whereas micro organism from 235 folks predicted resistance to a number of of the next antibiotics: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefotoxin, ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, and tetracycline.

The CDC says the variety of sick folks within the outbreak is probably going a lot greater than the quantity reported, and that the outbreak might not be restricted to the states with identified diseases.