320 sick in 2 salmonella outbreaks. One outbreak has been linked to Florida cucumbers
Two salmonella outbreaks that have sickened at least a reported 320 people are under investigation by the FDA and the CDC, and Florida cucumbers have been linked to one of them.
Here’s what to know about the outbreaks of salmonella Africana and salmonella Braenderup.
What cucumbers have been recalled?
So far, the only recall connected to the cucumbers is from Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray Beach. The company recalled the Florida grown whole cucumbers that were shipped May 17-21 to Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
READ MORE: A Florida company recalls cucumbers in 14 states
“Cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. are from a variety of growers,” the Food and Drug Administration said. “The grower that likely supplied potentially contaminated cucumbers is no longer growing and harvesting cucumbers for the season.”
While helping with the FDA investigation of the salmonella Africana outbreak, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture tested cucumbers from various retail locations. The agency found salmonella in a cucumber from Fresh Start.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said “further testing is underway to see if it is the same strain as the one making people sick. Investigators are also working to collect more information to see if other cucumbers are affected.”
Of the 65 people interviewed in the salmonella Africana outbreak, the CDC said, 47 reported eating cucumbers.
How widespread are the salmonella outbreaks?
Because most people who get salmonella don’t need to get professional medical attention before they get better, agencies accept that their official outbreak numbers undercount infections.
Wednesday’s update from the CDC says the salmonella Africana outbreak has sickened 162 people, 54 of which have been hospitalized, in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
Though the cucumbers linked to the outbreak came from Florida, where 18 people were ill, the state has only the third most sick behind Pennsylvania (27) and New York (19). Virginia has reported 17 illnesses. Ohio has reported nine. South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee each report eight people sickened. North Carolina reports seven.
The salmonella Braenderup infections number 158 across 23 states.
READ MORE: Ground black pepper recalled after testing finds salmonella
What’s the difference in the salmonella outbreaks?
Salmonella Africana and salmonella Braenderup “share several similarities, including where and when illnesses occurred and the demographics of ill people,” the FDA’s Wednesday update said. “Investigators are working to determine whether the two outbreaks could be linked to the same food vehicle.”
What is salmonella?
As one of the most common foodborne illnesses, salmonella strikes 1.35 million Americans each year, according to the CDC. About 26,500 are hospitalized, usually with bloody diarrhea, and about 420 people die. Most people go through four to seven days of stomachaches, fever and diarrhea, then recover.
