Category: cholera

Outbreaks and Alerts: June 27, 2011

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

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United States

  • Lansing, MI. June 23rd: The Michigan Department of Community Health announced three people in Michigan have been diagnosed with of Q fever after drinking raw milk from a dairy herd share program Livingston County.
  • Lee County, AL. June 24th: Six children sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after playing in Opelika Splash Park and Aquatic Center.
  • Anchorage, AK. June 27th: The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology is investigating four recent cases of Campylobacter infection associated with drinking raw milk from an Alaska farm.
  • Idaho, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington & Montana. June 24th: FDA warns the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.” because the sprouts may be linked to as many as 20 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State. Six of the outbreak victims report having consumed sprouts obtained from Evergreen Produce (Moyie Springs, ID). While no recall has been initiated, federal and state officials are warning consumers to discard any Evergreen Produce sprouts in their possession.
  • Cruise Ship Inspection. June 10th: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 fails routine unannounced CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection, obtaining a score of 84 (a score of 86 or above represents a Satisfactory result).

Europe, including Russian Federation and Ukraine

  • Bordeaux, France. June 27th: Sprout seeds incriminated in an outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 in Bordeaux were imported from Italy. The seeds were purchased from Jardiland de Villenave d’Ornon (Gironde) before sprouting. At least 10 people are suffering from bloody diarrhea, 8 of whom have been hospitalized. Five of the victims are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome. At least six people reported having consumed sprouts. E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed in 3 of the outbreak victims.

Asia and Africa

  • Hong Kong. June 22nd: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 14 members of a study tour group from Taiwan. The victims developed gastroenteritis some 10-35 hours after dining at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui in the evening of June 20th.
  • Kinshasa, Congo. June 27th: Four new cases of cholera were reported in Kinshasa earlier today, bringing the total number of cases in the capital city to seven.
  • Zabul Province, Afghanistan. June 27th: More than 70 civilians and military personnel in the Ma’ruf district of Zabul province have developed cholera. Another 200 people have been exposed to the disease and are experiencing its initial symptoms. Members of the Afghan air force and the US 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group have transported medical personnel and supplies to the affected region.


Recalls and Alerts: May 16, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): La Brasserie De Graal recalls certain batches and varieties of beer (33 cl bottles), because of a manufacturing defect that could result in the lip of the bottle breaking during opening, with the risk of glass fragments falling into the beer. Please see the recall notice for a list of affected beers.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Alois Müller GmbH & Co. KG recalls Müller Diät Milchreis, Sorte Pur, Müller Diät Milchreis, Sorte Zimt and Müller Diät Milchreis, Sorte Kirsch (best before 23.05 only), after receiving consumer complaints of glass particles in a few containers of the products. The recalled products were sold in stores belonging to the Cactus supermarket chain.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Dansk Supermarked A/S recalls Smoked Pork Tenderloin (Product of Poland; Best before dates from 1/1/2011 up to and including 1/5/2011), because the product is suspected to have been the source of an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT120.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): DB OKS recalls several turkey products (produced between 9 May and 13 May 2011), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0636): Salmonella Veneziana in mixed salad from the United Kingdom; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0637): Mold growth in blueberry fruit yoghurt from Germany; distributed to Austria, Germany and Hungary.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0640): Pine mouth syndrome caused by pine kernels from Norway, with raw material from China, via the Netherlands; distributed to Finland and Norway.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Herbal Medicine Recall (Hong Kong): Kwong Lung Hong recalls the Chinese medicinal herb Rhizoma Atractylodis (Batch 06010108; imported from the Mainland), because the product is contaminated with atropine and scopolamine. One illness has been reported.
  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): The Consumer Protection Commission has found that five lunchbox providers supplied elementary schools with six types of meat products containing chemicals banned by the Council of Agriculture. Four of the providers were CAS-certified companies. Of five meatball samples that were inspected, three contained chloramphenicol or enrofloxacin. A chicken sample was contaminated with doxycycline.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Japan): The toll stands at four deaths, and nearly 40 hospitalized – more than 20 of them in serious condition – in the E. coli O111 outbreak that was traced to a shredded raw beef dish (yukke) consumed at outlets of the Foods Forus Co. restaurant chain. The restaurant chain and its meat wholesaler are pointing the finger of blame at each other. Police conducted searches of the restaurant chain outlets, its operator and the meat distributor in an effort to determine at what point the contamination occurred.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Hospitals in Ludhiana are reporting that the seasonal increase in the number of gastroenteritis patients has begun early this year.
  • Outbreak Alert (Singapore): Seven teachers and 346 children from eight Pat’s Schoolhouse centers have now been reported to have been stricken with food poisoning on May 10th. Mum’s Kitchen – the caterer for the centers – has been fined $300 and given four demerit points following an inspection; its license also has been suspended while investigations continue. Twenty-six of the food poisoning victims are still in hospital.
  • Outbreak Alert (Jordan): A family of five children (ages 4-13) in Mafraq developed diarrhea and vomiting after eating a meal prepared at home.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cameroon): The capital city of Yaounde is experiencing an outbreak of cholera that has claimed more than 250 lives in the past two months.

Australia and New Zealand

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Venezuela): An outbreak of hepatitis A has spread from the Arenas parish in the municipality of Sucre State Forest to three additional parishes. Approximately 400 people have been infected.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

Recalls and Alerts: April 14, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Spice Hunter recalls Spice Hunter Curry Seasoning, 1.8oz (Lots 09 198 and 09 225) and Spice Hunter Ground Turmeric, 2.0oz (Lots 09 196, 09 201 and 09 264) due to the possibility of high levels of lead in the products. The recalled items were sold at Top Food & Drug store locations, and may also have been available elsewhere.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation: On Friday, March 25th, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a recall of all baked goods from DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston, RI. As of April 13, 2011, the recalled zeppole and other baked goods have been implicated in 75 cases of Salmonella gastroenteritis (74 in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts); 46 of the cases have been lab-confirmed; 29 victims were hospitalized (2 remain in hospital), and two people have died.
  • Recreational Water Safety Advisory (Oregon): A Health Advisory has been issued due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County. Direct contact with the water should be avoided until the advisory is lifted.
  • Cosmetics Product Safety Recall: Redken recalls Redken Guts Volume Foam Mousse (UPC 82214226107), because the aerosal can liner may corrode over time, leading to possible explosion of the can.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: L’Épicerie du Village (Sainte-Sophie) recalls a large number of prepared soups, entrées, pâtés and sauces, due to the presence of undeclared egg, wheat, soy, milk protein and/or sulfite.
  • Outbreak Alert (Saskatchewan): Four residents and six staff members at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre have been identified as suffering from an enteric illness, the cause of which has not been determined. The Cypress Health Region has declared a “Full Outbreak” at the facility. In order to prevent the outbreak from spreading further, visitation to the entire facility is restricted until further notice.
  • Health Advisory (Saskatchewan): The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and Ministry of Health warn that heightened risk of flooding in many parts of the province this spring may pose a threat to private water wells and cisterns used for drinking water sources. As a safety measure during spring runoff, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is offering free testing of private wells and cisterns used as sources of drinking water that have been potentially impacted by flooding across the province.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Singapore): Singapore has lifted its suspension on the import of fruites and vegetables from Japan’s Ehime prefecture.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Chinese authorities have detained five people and shut down the Shanghai Shenglu Food Co, a steamed bun manufacturer, after finding that the company’s products had been dyed, were expired, or contained undeclared chemicals.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): The Provincial Health Office has warned of an outbreak of typhoid fever in Negros Occidental province. The number of cases reported so far in 2011 is 60% higher than during the same period last year. Three deaths due to typhoid have been recorded this year.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of cholera has been declared in Bataraza town in Palawan. At least 430 cases of diarrhea have been reported since March 1st; at least 30 people – mostly children belonging to a tribe – have died.
  • Outbreak Alert (Congo DR): Fifty-one people have died as a result of cholera in eastern Congo (Democratic Republic) since February. Since the onset of the outbreak, 913 people have been hospitalized. It is feared that the onset of heavy rains could worsen the outbreak.
  • Food Poisoning Outbreak Investigation (Mauritius): Eighty-two people were diagnosed with food poisoning by staff of the Flacq Hospital on April 10th. Sixty people were admitted to hospital due to the severity of their symptoms. One death may be linked to the outbreak. All of the victims report having eaten cream pie purchased at the Marday White Mountain bakery on April 7th. The bakery’s manager, who also suffered from the food poisoning incident, has been questioned by police.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Colombia): The Ministry of Health reports that 19 confirmed cases of hepatitis A infections have been diagnosed in La Paz within the last month; an additional 10 suspect cases are under investigation. Approximately one-half of the victims are under 14 years of age. The source of the outbreak has not been determined, but contaminated food and/or unsafe drinking water are suspected.
  • Outbreak Update (Haiti): The rainy season is bringing with it a flare-up in the number of reported cases of cholera. In the last two weeks – since the onset of the rainy season – the Partners in Health cholera center in Mirebalais has seen 1,000 new cases. As a whole, Haiti is reporting some 2,000 new cholera cases a week.
  • Health Alert (Mexico): The Ministry of Health reports that 27,476 cases of acute diarrheal disease have been documented in Yucatan so far in 2011 – up 19% over the same period last year. Forty percent of the cases are children under five years of age.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.