Sedona AZ (September 25, 2012) – The salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated nut products claimed more victims today with thirty people ill in nineteen states reported the United States Center for Disease Control from its Atlanta, Georgia headquarters:
The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain: Arizona (1), California (2), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (4), Virginia (1), and Washington (2).
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that four victims have been hospitalized. The age range for those sickened by the salmonella range from less than one year old to 77 years, with a median age of 7. The majority of the salmonella victims – 66 percent – are children under the age of 10.
The salmonella illness onset dates range from June 11, 2012 to September 11, 2012: Illnesses that began after August 30, 2012 may not have been reported yet due to the usual time delay – between when a person falls ill and when a case is reported – notes CDC in its outbreak update.
A Minnesotan reported eating Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter in the week before falling ill in July, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Trader Joe’s issued a recall of this brand of peanut butter on September 22, 2012 before the supplier – New Mexico-based Sunland, Inc. – issued its own recall of the Trader Joe’s peanut butter, along with other peanut and almond butters sold nationwide.
“Investigations are ongoing to determine if any other foods are also a source in this outbreak,” says the CDC in its outbreak report.
The disease prevention agency recommends that people dispose of any remaining jars of recalled product. The reports notes that disposal is “especially important for children under the age of 5 years, older adults, and people with weak immune systems.”
Symptoms of salmonella usually appear between 6 and 72 hours after exposure, and include fever, chills, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache and muscle pains.
If you think you may have contracted a Salmonella infection, contact your healthcare provider immediately. For more information on this salmonella outbreak, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/bredeney-09-12/index.html.
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