CDC: Salmonella Epidemic spread to 16 states
Pastor Dale Morgan
CDC: Salmonella Epidemic spread to 16 states*
By MATT MYGATT, Associated Press Writer Sat Jun 7, 3:11 PM ET
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked
tomatoes has spread to 16 states, federal health officials said Saturday.
Investigations by the Texas and New Mexico Departments of Health and the
U.S. Indian Health Service have tied 56 cases in Texas and 55 in New
Mexico to raw, uncooked, tomatoes.
"We're seeing a steady increase," Deborah Busemeyer, New Mexico
Department of Health communications director, said Saturday.
An additional 50 people have been sickened by the same Salmonella
"Saintpaul" infection in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia,
Washington and Wisconsin, the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported.
Investigators are trying to determine if raw tomatoes also are
responsible for the illnesses in those states, said Arleen Porcell, a
CDC spokeswoman.
The source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses has not been
pinpointed, but health officials in Texas and New Mexico said none of
them was grown in those two states.
At least 23 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been
reported, she said. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 82.
The rarity of the Saintpaul strain and the number of illnesses "suggest
that implicated tomatoes are distributed throughout the country," she said.
Interviews conducted with 73 people found the illnesses began between
April 16 and May 27, Porcell said.
Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still
attached and homegrown tomatoes are likely not the source of the
outbreak, Busemeyer said.
Also not associated with the outbreak are raw Roma, red plum and round
red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic,
Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico, according to the U.S.
Food and Drug Association.
Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans
and other animals. It usually is transmitted to humans by eating food
contaminated with animal feces.
Most infected people suffer fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps
starting 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness tends to last four
to seven days. Many people recover without treatment, but severe
infection and death is possible.
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On the Net:
CDC salmonella: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/