2011-2012 Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado - 146 persons infected, 34 deaths, 1 miscarriage

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 8?

KKTV (through AP) is confirming second CO death, along with 14 CO cases of listeriosis. http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/S...130233723.html

NOTE: This death has been counted in the total of 8

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 10?

WIBW out of KS is reporting 8 listeriosis cases with 2 deaths in KS, pending cantaloupe connection. http://www.wibw.com/toyourhealth/hea...130242978.html

This would bring the total to 10.

UPDATE: There has only been one confirmed death in KS as of Sept. 29.

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/093011/index.html

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 11?

CDC reports 1 death from MD from listeria in cantaloupes.
Total 11 (Note above references to health departments and news references)

As of 5pm EDT on September 20, 2011, a total of 55 persons infected with the 4 outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 14 states. All illnesses started on or after August 4, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Colorado (14), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (4), New Mexico (10), Oklahoma (8), Texas (9), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1)...

Eight deaths have been reported, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Maryland, 4 in New Mexico, and 1 in Oklahoma...

Among the 36 ill persons with available information on what they ate, 34 (94%) reported consuming cantaloupes in the month before illness onset. Several ill persons remembered the type of cantaloupe they had eaten and said they were Rocky Ford cantaloupes, which are grown in the Rocky Ford region of southeastern Colorado. Source tracing of the cantaloupes that ill persons ate indicated that they came from Jensen Farms, and were marketed as being from the Rocky Ford region. These cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through Sept 10 to at least 17 states with possible further distribution.

http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/092111.html

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 12?

NM: ...we are investigating another 3 people with Listeria infection and 1 of the 3 has died.

http://www.health.state.nm.us/

This would bring the total to 12.

KS: The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has received word that the five isolates sent to CDC do match the Listeria multistate outbreak. KDHE anticipates the addition of Kansas on the CDC updated report, as a state matching the ongoing multistate outbreak.

http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2011/09222011a.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 13?

NE: KFOR is reporting one death due to Listeriosis from cantaloupes; 6 confirmed cases.

http://www.kfor1240.com/Nebraska-Cantaloupe-Death-Confirmed/11007183

Total deaths due to listeria in cantaloupes: 13

Additional source for retail outlets that sold cantaloupes, number of cases and deaths: eFoodAlert http://efoodalert.wordpress.com/2011...nesses-deaths/

[Pathfinder]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 14?

DALLAS COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
2377 North Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75207-2710
214-819-6329 office
214-819-6095 fax

ZACHARY THOMPSON DR. STEVE WILSON DIRECTOR MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Contact: Blanca Cantu ? 214-819-6329 Zachary Thompson ? 214-755-9299
214-394-8109

For Immediate Release ? September 26, 2011

Fourth Dallas County resident linked to listeria outbreak died

Dallas County Health and Human Services officials received notification today that a fourth case of listeria in Dallas County is linked to the multistate investigation of illness caused by contaminated cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Colorado.

An 89-year-old Dallas County resident was sickened with listeriosis and was hospitalized. The patient has since died.

For medical confidentiality and personal privacy reasons, DCHHS will not provide additional identifying information related to the case.

There are no other pending cases of listeria in Dallas County.

Dallas County residents have been advised not to consume Rocky Ford cantaloupes shipped from Jensen Farms because they could have possibly been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause severe illness.

Shipments of these particular cantaloupes were made between July 29, 2011 and Sept. 10, 2011 and distributed to 17 states, including Texas.
Dallas-area retailers received shipments within the last month, but they have since been recalled.

Because listeria bacteria can grow at room temperature and in the refrigerator, it is important to sanitize countertops and vegetable drawers where the fruit may have been stored.

Any person who develops symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, accompanied by fever, who may have ingested cantaloupe from Jensen Farms should seek medical attention.

http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhs/press/documents/092611ListeriaFourthCase.pdf

Also see:
<TABLE id=rows class=alternate_rows border=0 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="90%" align=center><TBODY><TR class=" odd"><TD>Third Dallas County case linked to listeria outbreak (September 23, 2011) </TD></TR><TR class=" even"><TD>Two Dallas County cases linked to listeria outbreak (September 21, 2011) </TD></TR><TR class=" odd"><TD>Recalled cantaloupe linked to listeria outbreak distributed in Dallas-area (September 16, 2011)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhs/press/11press.html

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 15?

Denver Post is reporting a death of a WY woman from listeriosis, confirmation is pending as to the cantaloupe outbreak.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18982044

If determined, this would be death 15.

UPDATE: (SEPT 27, 2011)
Wyoming Department of Health officials have identified two more Wyoming cases of listeriosis, including one resulting in death, and believe each is associated with an ongoing multistate cantaloupe-related outbreak.

The newly reported cases include a Sheridan County woman who has died and a Laramie County woman. Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, noted both individuals had risk factors and underlying conditions known to place people at higher risk for listeria illness.

Wyoming has now reported three total listeria cases in recent weeks. Department officials believe all three are linked to the cantaloupe-related outbreak; one so far has been confirmed as connected by lab testing...

http://www.health.wyo.gov/news.aspx?NewsID=498

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 16?

The New York Times is reporting another death in Texas.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/business/deaths-from-cantaloupe-listeria-rises.html

This would bring the total to 16.


UPDATE: As of Sept. 28, Texas is reporting 14 listeriosis cases linked to the cantaloupe, including two deaths.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 16?

According to CTV News: AP is reporting 16 deaths and 72 illnesses. Warns that total could climb higher because surfaces that cantaloupes were on in homes (counter tops, refrigerators, etc) potentially hold bacteria and that symptoms could take up to 2 months to emerge.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_077_2011_Release/index.asp

An anecdotal note: I was in a store check-out on Monday. The clerk overheard my conversation re: cantaloupe recall. He hadn't heard about it. He had several cantaloupes at home from a purchase 14 days prior (from a store known to carry that brand) and was going to slice them up when he got off work. He lives in MO and works at Walmart and WAS NOT AWARE!

[makoto]

Re: Listeria outbreak in western US: Cantalope warning issued

Food poisoning involving listeria likills 13 in US

US health authorities say 13 people have died of food poisoning after eating melons tainted with a harmful bacteria.....

.....Japan's health ministry says that 38 people complained of fever after eating listeria-tainted cheese in Hokkaido in 2001.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 16:30 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/28_22.html

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 16?

Updated September 27, 2011
FDA and its state partners are conducting checks at retail stores, wholesalers and distributors to make sure they have received notification about the Jensen Farms’ whole cantaloupe recall and that they have taken appropriate action to notify their customers and remove the recalled whole cantaloupes from the shelves.

Because some of the wholesalers and distributors may have further distributed the recalled cantaloupes to food processers, it is possible that additional products that contain cantaloupe from Jensen Farms could be recalled. Should FDA discover any information that contaminated cantaloupe is still in the marketplace, the Agency will work with the necessary parties to facilitate voluntary recalls of the product and take the necessary steps to protect the safety of the public’s health...

The recalled cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011 to the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm272372.htm

As of 11am EDT on September 26, 2011, a total of 72 persons infected with the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 18 states. All illnesses started on or after July 31, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Colorado (15), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Kansas (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (10), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (8), Texas (14), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1).
Thirteen deaths have been reported: 2 in Colorado, 1 in Kansas, 1 in Maryland, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 4 in New Mexico, 1 in Oklahoma, and 2 in Texas...

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the high-risk category, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, who experience flu-like symptoms within 2 months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the physician or health care provider about eating the contaminated food...

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/index.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: Deaths from Listeria in Cantaloupes Total 16?

Persons infected with the outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes, by state*


*n= 72 for whom information was reported to CDC as of 11am EDT on September 26, 2011

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/092711/map.html

[sharon sanders]

Re: Listeria outbreak in USA: Cantalope warning issued - 16 deaths?

I merged 2 simultaneous threads. I also made a new title to reflect both threads. Please change or update the title.

Thanks everyone!

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Listeria outbreak in USA: Cantalope warning issued - 15 deaths

As of 11am EDT on September 29, 2011, a total of 84 persons infected with any of the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 19 states. All illnesses started on or after July 31, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1) California (1), Colorado (17), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Kansas (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (3), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (13), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (11), Texas (14), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (2).
Fifteen deaths have been reported: 3 in Colorado, 1 in Kansas, 1 in Maryland, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 5 in New Mexico, 1 in Oklahoma, and 2 in Texas... http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/

September 29, 2011 - Jensen Farms of Holly, CO is including whole cantaloupes shipped to the states of Indiana, Louisiana and Wisconsin in its September 14th recall notification.
As part of its ongoing internal review of shipment records, Jensen Farms has identified shipments to these three states as part of the September 14 recall. The whole cantaloupes sent to IN, LA and WI were included in the original volume recalled on September 14, and the customers that received this product from Jensen Farms were notified of the recall on the same day...

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm274091.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Listeria outbreak in USA: Cantalope warning issued - 16 deaths

Oct 1, 2011 - Mesa County, CO—Mesa County Health Department received confirmation today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) that the Listeria death in Mesa County is linked to the current cantaloupe outbreak. In addition, a second elderly Mesa County resident remains hospitalized with Listeria; this case has also been linked to the current cantaloupe outbreak.

http://health.mesacounty.us/

This death is number 16.