Salmonella outbreak sickens more than 100 people; investigations into other outbreaks ongoing

The patient count in an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections has jumped to 103, with no source yet identified as the route of the pathogen.

A week ago there were 78 confirmed patients, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The agency has not reported how old the patients are or where they live. It also has not reported whether any patients have required hospitalization.

The FDA has begun traceback efforts but has not reported what food it is tracing. The outbreak was first reported on April 23 and is ongoing.

In other outbreak news, cucumbers have been identified as the source of Salmonella that has sickened people across 15 states. The cucumbers were grown by Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, FL, which is the same company whose cucumbers were traced to a Salmonella outbreak in 2024.

During an investigation of the 2024 outbreak, the FDA found Salmonella in the grower’s irrigation water. This year the outbreak strain of Salmonella was again found in the company’s water.

The 2024 outbreak sickened 551 people in 34 states and the District of Columbia. The cucumbers were distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc.

For two outbreaks, the FDA has closed its investigations without determining the source of the pathogens that made people sick.

One was an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections that sickened 30 people. The FDA did not report the patients’ ages or where they live. The agency initiated onsite inspection and sample testing but did not report what location was being inspected or what was tested. Officials first reported the outbreak on March 13.

The other outbreak investigation that has been closed in the past week also involved Listeria monocytogenes. The pathogen was in frozen supplemental shakes served at health care facilities and long-term care facilities. The shakes were Lyons ReadyCare brand and Sysco Imperial brand that were  manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. in Fort Wayne, IN. The shakes were recalled. The investigation began in 2024. Investigators found the outbreak strain of Listeria in the company’s production facility.

A total of 42 people from 21 states were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Of the 42 people with information available, 41 were hospitalized, and 14 deaths were reported.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritis, the patient count is slowly growing, having increased to 30, up from 29 a week ago. The FDA has not released patient ages, where they live or whether any have been hospitalized. The agency has begun traceback efforts, but has not reported what food is being traced. The outbreak was first reported on April 23. 

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