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FDA continues outbreak investigations

FDA continues outbreak investigations
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The Food and Drug Administration has advanced an investigation into one Salmonella outbreak and declared another one over.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Richmond that has sickened 11 people the FDA has begun an onsite inspection and sample testing but is not releasing information about what location is being inspected or what is being sampled. The agency previously began traceback efforts but has not reported what food it is tracing.

The FDA has also not released any information about the patients, including their ages or where they live. The agency first posted the outbreak on Oct. 16.

There are likely many more sick people in the outbreak than are on the confirmed patient list. This is because some people do not seek medical attention and many who do are not specifically tested for Salmonella. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak 29 go undocumented.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Lomalinda infections, the FDA is reporting that it has closed its investigation. There were 40 confirmed patients in the outbreak. The FDA did not report the patients ages or where they live.

The agency conducted traceback, onsite inspection and sample testing but did not report any specific details about those efforts. It remains unknown what caused the outbreak. The FDA first posted the outbreak on Sept. 1.

Ongoing outbreaks and investigations

For an outbreak of Listeria infections the FDA continues to investigate various brands of ready-to-eat pasta meals.

As of Sept. 25, a total of 20 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeriahave been reported from 15 states. Nineteen of the patients have been hospitalized and five of the patients have died. The FDA first reported the outbreak on April 9. The agency has not updated information on the outbreak since Oct. 7.

Recalled products related to the outbreak include:

For an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, the patient count remains steady at eight. The FDA has not found a source of the pathogen, but has begun an onsite inspection and sample testing. The agency is not reporting what location it is inspecting or what is being sampled. The agency previously initiated traceback efforts but has not reported what food is being traced. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Sept. 17.

For an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections, the patient count has remained steady at 26. The FDA has not reported the patients’ ages or where they live. A source of the pathogen has not been determined. The agency has begun traceback but has not reported what food is being traced. The FDA first posted the outbreak on Sept. 4.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections the patient count has remained steady at 45. The FDA has not reported how old the patients are or where they live. A source of the pathogen has not been identified. The FDA has begun trace back efforts but has not reported what food it is tracing. The agency has also begun onsite inspections and sample testing but has not reported what location is being inspected or what it is testing. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Aug. 27.

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Coral Beach

Coral Beach

Managing Editor Coral Beach is a print journalist with more than 20 years experience as a reporter and editor for daily newspapers, trade publications and freelance clients including the Kansas City Star, the Independence Examiner and Land Line Magaz

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