United States: A new and contagious outbreak has been discovered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has been caused by Salmonella Braenderup. As per the official update, the current outlined might be linked to current Salmonella Africana infections.
The health experts have warned that both the outbreaks might be linked to fresh cucumbers.
As of the June 5 announcement, 158 individuals have been confirmed to be afflicted with Salmonella Braenderup, as reported by the FDA. These cases span 23 states, as reported by Food Safety News.
Reportedly, in the case of the Salmonella Africana outbreak, 162 individuals have been affected across 25 states, with 54 requiring hospitalization. The inaugural case of this outbreak was reported on March 11, and the ages of those affected range from 1 to 92 years old.
Preliminary test outcomes suggest that the Salmonella Africana outbreak could be associated with fresh, whole cucumbers.
These two outbreaks share multiple similarities, including the temporal and geographical occurrence of illnesses and the demographics of those affected. FDA investigators are endeavoring to determine if both outbreaks might be traced back to the same food source.
The FDA has indicated that the Salmonella Africana outbreak might be linked to cucumbers recalled by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. These implicated cucumbers were distributed in bulk to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in 14 states, although further distribution or re-packaging for stores in additional states is possible. The cucumbers might lack a brand name or grower identification on their labels, as reported by Food Safety News.
The specific retail locations selling these cucumbers have not been disclosed. Investigators are in the process of gathering more information to ascertain if other cucumbers are implicated.
Out of 65 individuals interviewed in the Salmonella Africana outbreak, 72 percent reported consuming cucumbers prior to falling ill. The outbreak was first announced by the FDA on May 22.
As part of the investigation, officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture procured cucumber samples from several retail locations. Testing revealed Salmonella in one of these samples. Further testing is underway to determine if the strain matches the one causing illnesses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the actual number of individuals affected by both outbreaks is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases, estimating that for every confirmed Salmonella illness, there are 29 unreported cases.
About Salmonella Infections
Salmonella bacteria are usually not visible or distinguishable from the rest when ingested as the food they contaminate can remain apparently fresh. Everyone is at risk of getting a Salmonella infection, though it poses a greater danger to young infants, senior citizens, and other individuals with weak body immunity, as has been noted by the CDC.
Those who have ingested cucumbers and experienced signs and symptoms of Salmonella infection are advised to visit their doctor immediately. Patients suffering from its symptoms should report their case to their doctors so that the latter can run tests for detecting salmonellosis since it is not common for doctors to routinely test for it. Most of the symptoms of Salmonella infection are quite common with other diseases, and this can make its diagnosis a tricky affair as it often goes through misdiagnosis, Food Safety News reports.
The illness that is associated with Salmonella infection is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within the first 12 to 72 hours of contracting the food-borne disease. In most cases, symptoms manifest in healthy adults, and the patient will only have to suffer for about 4-7 days. Sometimes, it is severe enough to warrant hospitalization. Some forms of diarrhea are very severe, causing hospitalization.
It disappears in other individuals with certain abnormalities, such as people of old age, children, pregnant women, and other people with compromised immune systems, for instance, people with cancer.
There will be times that an infected person does not develop signs of the infection but can pass on the infection to another person.