FDA investigating new outbreak of infections from Salmonella Enteritidis; eggs likely source

Investigators from the FDA have discovered a new outbreak of infections from Salmonella Enteritidis.

According to the Food and Drug Administration’s notice, the outbreak has already sickened 66 people. The agency has not reported the patients’ ages or locations.

FDA investigators have begun onsite inspections and sample testing, but the agency has not yet reported what locations are being inspected or what food is being tested. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a Salmonella outbreak has been traced to eggs produced by Milo’s Poultry Farms and sold under the Milo’s brand and Tony’s Fresh Market brand. Milo’s has initiated a recall of all of its eggs.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

In other outbreak news, the FDA continues to search for the cause of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened 26 people. The agency first reported the outbreak on Aug. 28. Traceback efforts have begun, but the FDA has not reported what foods are being traced.

The FDA has begun sample collection for a Listeria outbreak that has sickened three people but has not yet reported what food is being sampled. The agency first reported the outbreak on Aug. 21.

In an outbreak of infections from the Cyclospora parasite, the patient count has increased from 41 to 50 cases in the past week. The source of the parasites has not yet been identified, but the FDA has initiated traceback, onsite inspections, and sample testing. The agency has not reported what food is being tested or what location is being inspected. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Aug. 7.

The patient count for an outbreak of Salmonella Newport has increased from six to seven in the past week. The source of the pathogen has not yet been identified, but the FDA has begun traceback efforts and is conducting an on-site inspection. The agency has not yet reported what food is being traced or what facility is being inspected. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Aug. 7.

The FDA has initiated an on-site inspection for an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that has sickened 89 people. The agency has not reported what facility is being inspected. Traceback efforts and sample testing are also underway, but the FDA has not reported what food is being traced or sampled. The agency first reported the outbreak on June 19. 

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