WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 750 people have become ill in an outbreak of Salmonella linked to certain types of tomatoes, U.S food safety officials said on Thursday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 756 people in 34 states and the District of Columbia have been infected with a rare strain of bacteria known as Salmonella Saintpaul. Of them, 95 people have been hospitalized.
The Centers for Disease Control said in a statement that no deaths have been attributed to the illness.
"However, a man in his sixties who died in Texas from cancer had an infection with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul at the time of his death. The infection may have contributed to his death," the CDC said.
Investigators are still trying to find the source of the contamination. Health officials said last Friday they expected more people to become ill because the outbreak is probably still under way.
Texas has been the hardest hit with 330 people becoming ill, followed by New Mexico with 80 cases.
Officials linked the outbreak to raw plum, Roma and round tomatoes. They have said this may be the largest U.S. outbreak of Salmonella infections from tomatoes.
According to the CDC, Salmonella Saintpaul is uncommon. The CDC sees about 400 cases of Saintpaul infections in humans each year.
Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, according to the FDA.
(Reporting by Christopher Doering; Editing by Maggie Fox)
No comments:
Post a Comment