The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly illness now stands, officially, at 93 people infected in 19 states and the District of Columbia, according to an Investigation Announcement released by CDC.
Illnesses have been confirmed in Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (4), District of Columbia (2), Georgia (4), Illinois (8), Louisiana (2), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (6), New York (23), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (4), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (8). Ten outbreak victims have been hospitalized. Seventeen of the 23 New York cases were reported from outside of the New York City area.
The number of confirmed cases will grow. eFoodAlert already has been told by the Connecticut Department of Public Health that they have identified five victims (compared with the total of four victims reported by CDC in that state). None of the Connecticut outbreak victims were hospitalized. Investigations and food trace back activities are still underway in a number of states, including California, which is not one of the 19 states to have reported cases.
Illness onset dates range from January 28 to March 23, 2012. The youngest confirmed patient is 4 years old; the oldest is 78. Among the people for whom a food history is available, 69% reported eating sushi, sashimi or similar foods in the week before illness onset. This compares with a survey of healthy people in which only 5% reported having consumed these types of food.
Details are still sketchy, but a few states have shared additional information with eFoodAlert or have posted a summary on its website. Here is what we know, as of today (April 5th):
- Connecticut:- Five outbreak cases identified; none hospitalized. Victims became ill in mid-February and early March.
- Illinois:- The Illinois Department of Public Health reports nine confirmed cases, including three who were hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from February 11th to March 17th. Outbreak cases were reported from Chicago (6), Cook County (1) and Will County (2).
- Louisiana:- Two confirmed cases (one male and one female); both hospitalized. Both became ill in mid-February. One of the victims reported eating spicy roll sushi in the week before becoming ill. No food history is available for the other victim.
- New York State:- Seventeen confirmed cases (excluding New York City, which is covered by its own health department); one person hospitalized. The earliest New York State victim became ill on March 1st. Victims range from 16 to 78 years of age.
- Virginia:- Five confirmed cases; none hospitalized. The earliest illness onset date was early February. All five outbreak victims are 20-50 years old, and live in the central and northwestern part of the state.
- Wisconsin:- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports eight confirmed cases – three in Milwaukee and five in Waukesha. All are adults. Three of the eight were hospitalized.
The following states have informed eFoodAlert that they have not identified any outbreak related cases, and have no suspect cases under investigation at this time: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.
CDC reports that the investigation has not yet conclusively identified a food source. Federal, state and local health officials are continuing to identify and interview other outbreak victims.
At this stage in the investigation, CDC has no specific advice or recommendations for the public, and is not suggesting that consumers avoid eating any particular foods.
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