New Salmonella outbreak under investigation

Investigators from the Food and Drug Administration are working on a new Salmonella outbreak of unknown origin.

The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak has sickened at least 18 people. The FDA has not reported the ages of the patients or where they live. The agency has initiated traceback efforts, but has not reported what food is being traced.

There are likely many more people who have been sickened in the outbreak than are reported at this time because the CDC estimates that for every confirmed Salmonella patient in an outbreak there are 29 patients who go unreported.

In other outbreak news, the FDA has determined that an outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 infections was likely due to alfalfa or clover sprouts. Public health officials conducted patient interviews and traceback investigations to determine the likely source of the pathogen.

“Although sprouts were confirmed as the vehicle, investigators were unable to determine which type of sprouts was making people sick,” according to the FDA.

The FDA first posted information about the outbreak on Oct. 30, 2024. Investigators confirmed 10 patients in the outbreak, but many more people were likely sickened. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 26 patients go unreported for every confirmed patient in an E. coli outbreak.

Once investigators had enough information to confirm sprouts as the source of this outbreak, the products were past their shelf life and no longer available for sale.

Other outbreak updates
The FDA has closed an investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O145:H28 infections without finding the source of the pathogen. A total of eight people were confirmed as patients. The FDA initiated traceback efforts but did not report what food was traced.

For an outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes, the number of patients has increased to 35. The FDA has not reported the ages of the patients or where they live. The agency has initiated an on-site inspection and sample testing but has not reported what location is being inspected or what kind of food is being tested. The agency first reported the outbreak on Jan. 15.

For another outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes, the patient count now stands at 34. The FDA has not reported the ages of the patients or where they live. The agency has begun traceback but has not reported what food it is tracing. The agency also reports having begun an onsite inspection and sample testing but has not reported what location is being inspected or what is being tested. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Dec. 26, 2024. 

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