Joint investigation for US cucumber salmonella outbreak

A recent multi state outbreak of Salmonella Poona infections linked to cucumbers has led to various joint investigations from the State Departments of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration in the affected states.

The national investigation implicates “slicer,” or “American” cucumbers supplied by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce (San Diego, California) as a source of the outbreak. Andrew & Williamson has voluntarily recalled these cucumbers, which are dark green and typically between seven and 10 inches long.

Cucumbers from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce were grown in Baja California, Mexico. Cucumbers grown in the United States are not part of the recall, nor are other types of cucumbers. Types not included in the recall include “English” cucumbers, which are usually longer and sold wrapped in plastic, and “Persian,” or mini cucumbers.

The majority of people who are sick with this strain of Salmonella have eaten garden variety cucumbers. Garden variety cucumbers are the average size green cucumbers with thick skin, seeded, and not wrapped in plastic. It is important to note that English (long plastic wrapped cucumbers with ridges running lengthwise) or Persian (small, thin-skinned, seedless) varieties of cucumbers have not been implicated in this outbreak. These cucumbers appear to be safe to eat based on the information gathered.

About 52 percent of those sickened in all states are children under 18. The median age of case patients from all states, who range in age from 1 to 99 is 16. Illnesses reported so far began on July 3, 2015 and have continued to September 11, 2015. Illnesses that began after that may not yet have been reported.

The case count by state is: Alaska (12), Arizona (95), Arkansas (8), California (120), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (20), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (4), Minnesota (29), Missouri (9), Montana (14), Nebraska (5), Nevada (11), New Mexico (27), New York (5), North Dakota (3), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (17), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (8), South Dakota (1), Texas (24), Utah (46), Virginia (1), Washington (18), Wisconsin (29), and Wyoming (4).

Source: foodpoisonjournal.com/foodpoisoningbulletin.com