FDA discovers new E. coli outbreak with 67 patients found; source not yet identified

Federal officials are investigating a new outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections related to an unknown source.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the outbreak on Dec. 4. The agency has initiated traceback efforts but has not reported what food or foods are being traced. The agency has not begun testing any food samples or environmental swabs.

Also, the agency has not reported where the 67 patients live or whether any have been hospitalized. The number of patients in this or other E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks is likely much higher because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that for every patient identified, 26 go undiagnosed. This is because some patients do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for E. coli.

In other outbreak news

For an outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 traced to organic carrots and organic baby carrots, the patient count stands at 39, with 15 hospitalizations and one death. The outbreak was first reported on Nov. 6. The patients live in 18 states stretching from coast to coast. The most recent patient to become ill had symptom onset on Oct. 28. Grimmway Farms initiated a recall of dozens of organic products sold under various brand names. The FDA reports that none of the recalled carrots are available for sale. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections traced to cucumbers from Mexico, the patient count stands at 68. The patients live in 19 states, and they reach coast to coast. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Of 33 people interviewed, 27 reported eating cucumbers before becoming ill. The outbreak was first reported on Nov. 27. SunFed LLC has recalled the implicated cucumbers, and a number of other companies have recalled products that contain the cucumbers. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

For an outbreak of E. coli infections first reported on Nov. 14, the FDA reports that the patient count has increased to 26, up from 25 a week ago. The agency has begun traceback efforts but has not reported what food or foods are being traced or where the patients live. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

The patient count for an outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections has increased from nine a week ago to 10. The agency has not yet determined the source of the pathogen but has initiated traceback efforts. The FDA has also begun onsite inspections and sample testing but has not reported what location is being inspected or what is being tested. The agency first reported the outbreak on Oct. 30. The agency has not reported where the patients live. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

For an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections first reported on Oct. 23, the FDA has closed its investigation without finding the source of the pathogen. The outbreak had four patients who were determined to have the outbreak strain of the pathogen. The agency conducted traceback, onsite inspections and sample testing but did not report what food or locations were involved.

The FDA has closed its investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections traced to spinach. The outbreak was first reported on Aug. 28, and 28 patients were identified. The FDA, CDC, and state agencies conducted patient interviews and traceback investigations and determined spinach as the likely source of the pathogen. However, investigators could not determine a specific contamination source while the outbreak was ongoing. The FDA reports that there is no ongoing risk to the public.

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