Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/news-scan-oct-09-2020
News Scan for Oct 09, 2020
Onion Salmonella probe over; Polio in 3 countries
Filed Under:
Salmonella; Foodborne Disease; Polio
CDC closes investigation on 1,127-case Salmonella outbreak tied to onions
As of Oct 8, public health investigators and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded their investigation of a Salmonella Newport outbreak that has resulted in 1,127 confirmed cases and 167 hospitalizations across 48 states.
Using whole-genome sequencing, officials traced the outbreak Salmonella strain to red onions produced by California-based Thomson International Inc., but because of product proximity, the company's Aug 1 recall affected yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions as well.
An outbreak linked to the same source occurred in Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada concluded its investigation Oct 1, reporting 515 cases, 79 hospitalizations, and outbreaks in 8 of its 10 provinces.
Most of the US cases occurred from late June through mid-July, although between the CDC's Sep 1 update and now, 115 more cases have been reported. Washington, California, and Utah have experienced the most cases, with 150, 128, and 115 respectively. In 91% of interviews conducted by the US public health investigators, the ill patients said that in the week before symptom onset, they ate onions or foods that probably had onions.
In addition to the Thomson International recall, other companies including Aldi, Walmart, and Kroger recalled onions and/or downstream products like cheese dips and spreads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Consumers should check the full list of related recalls as the CDC recommends that people throw away all recalled onion products—or products of unknown sources—and clean any surfaces that the food or packaging has touched.
Oct 8 CDC update
New polio cases confirmed in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad
Three countries—Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, and Chad—reported more polio cases over the past week, according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Afghanistan reported 4 more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, 2 in Khost province and 1 each in Badghis and Hilmand provinces, raising the total for the year to 51. It also reported 8 more circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in six provinces, lifting that total for 2020 to 87.
In Africa, Burkina Faso reported 6 new cases, though no details were available about the locations. The last reported total was 10 cases, all linked to Nigeria's Jigawa province outbreak. Meanwhile, Chad reported 3 more cases, 2 in Logone Occidental and 1 in Logone Oriental, boosting the country's number this year to 69 from two different outbreaks, one linked to Nigeria's Jigawa event.
Oct 8 GPEI update
News Scan for Oct 09, 2020
Onion Salmonella probe over; Polio in 3 countries
Filed Under:
Salmonella; Foodborne Disease; Polio
CDC closes investigation on 1,127-case Salmonella outbreak tied to onions
As of Oct 8, public health investigators and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded their investigation of a Salmonella Newport outbreak that has resulted in 1,127 confirmed cases and 167 hospitalizations across 48 states.
Using whole-genome sequencing, officials traced the outbreak Salmonella strain to red onions produced by California-based Thomson International Inc., but because of product proximity, the company's Aug 1 recall affected yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions as well.
An outbreak linked to the same source occurred in Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada concluded its investigation Oct 1, reporting 515 cases, 79 hospitalizations, and outbreaks in 8 of its 10 provinces.
Most of the US cases occurred from late June through mid-July, although between the CDC's Sep 1 update and now, 115 more cases have been reported. Washington, California, and Utah have experienced the most cases, with 150, 128, and 115 respectively. In 91% of interviews conducted by the US public health investigators, the ill patients said that in the week before symptom onset, they ate onions or foods that probably had onions.
In addition to the Thomson International recall, other companies including Aldi, Walmart, and Kroger recalled onions and/or downstream products like cheese dips and spreads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Consumers should check the full list of related recalls as the CDC recommends that people throw away all recalled onion products—or products of unknown sources—and clean any surfaces that the food or packaging has touched.
Oct 8 CDC update
New polio cases confirmed in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad
Three countries—Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, and Chad—reported more polio cases over the past week, according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Afghanistan reported 4 more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, 2 in Khost province and 1 each in Badghis and Hilmand provinces, raising the total for the year to 51. It also reported 8 more circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in six provinces, lifting that total for 2020 to 87.
In Africa, Burkina Faso reported 6 new cases, though no details were available about the locations. The last reported total was 10 cases, all linked to Nigeria's Jigawa province outbreak. Meanwhile, Chad reported 3 more cases, 2 in Logone Occidental and 1 in Logone Oriental, boosting the country's number this year to 69 from two different outbreaks, one linked to Nigeria's Jigawa event.
Oct 8 GPEI update