A Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes sold in 34 U.S. states has, as of November 30, been responsible for two deaths, 61 hospitalizations, and 117 illnesses according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This most-recent update from the agencies expands the list of recalled products and shows an increase in the number of illnesses reported in the last update on November 24. Numerous companies have acted to remove their products from store shelves as a precaution and CDC recommends consumers not eat pre-cut cantaloupe if the product’s brand is unknown.
The impacted whole cantaloupes were sold with labels or stickers that read “Malichita” or “Rudy,” and may contain the words “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.” Other brands affected were sold in clear containers and cups, or pre-cut or sliced into cubes.
In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued recall warnings for Malichita and Rudy-labeled whole and cantaloupe and, as of November 30, several new brands of fresh-cut cantaloupe sold in several provinces and territories. The Public Health Agency of Canada is reporting one death, 17 hospitalizations, and more than 60 illnesses as of November 24.
On November 17, the U.S. agencies reported determined the Salmonella Sundsvall straing as the source of infection. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed that clinical isolates from the ill people in Canada are genetically related to illnesses in the U.S. Since CDC’s update on November 24, the agency has added a second strain of Salmonella (Oranienburg) to this outbreak investigation.
The investigation is ongoing.
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