2nd Death Reported in Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak

Tainted cucumbers also linked to 341 illnesses in 30 states, CDC officials report

By HealthDay staff

Thursday, September 10, 2015

THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A second death has been reported in a salmonella outbreak that has been linked to contaminated cucumbers and caused 341 illnesses in 30 states, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mexico-grown cucumbers were distributed in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

The first death, of a 99-year-old woman, was reported last week in San Diego, and the second death involved a woman who had other serious health issues, the Associated Press reported. The first woman died Aug. 17, and the second death occurred in late August. So far, 70 people have been hospitalized in the outbreak.

More than 50 percent of the illnesses reported were in children under the age of 18, and 58 percent of the cases have involved females, the CDC reported.

On Sept. 4, the company implicated in the outbreak, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego, recalled its "Limited Edition" brand cucumbers because of their connection to the outbreak, the CDC reported.

If you don't know if your cucumbers were recalled, the CDC suggests asking your supplier. Or, if you're in doubt, throw them out.

Symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Illness typically lasts about a week, but infections can be serious. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to having severe illness.

The greatest number of illnesses has occurred in California (72). Arizona has reported the second largest number of illnesses (66), while Utah has reported 30.

According to the CDC, the states where salmonella has been reported include: Alaska (9); Arizona (66); Arkansas (6); California (72); Colorado (14); Hawaii (1); Idaho (8); Illinois (6); Kansas (1); Kentucky (1); Louisiana (4); Minnesota (12); Missouri (8); Montana (10); Nebraska (2); Nevada (7); New Mexico (18); New York (4); North Dakota (1); Ohio (2); Oklahoma (8); Oregon (8); Pennsylvania (2); South Carolina (7); Texas (18); Utah (30); Virginia (1); Washington (10); Wisconsin (2); and Wyoming (3).

SOURCES: Sept. 9, 2015, news release, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;Associated Press

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