DOZENS SICK AFTER CONTRACTING SALMONELLA FROM CANTALOUPES IN MULTISTATE OUTBREAK
U.S. health officials have reported that at least 43 people across 15 states have become sick after contracting salmonella from cantaloupes included in a recent recall.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that 17 of those infected have been hospitalized, with several brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit being recalled in the past week due to suspicions of possible contamination.
The affected products include Malichita brand whole cantaloupes sold between Oct. 16 and Oct. 23, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe sold between Oct. 30 and Nov. 10, and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products with best-by dates between Oct. 27 and Oct. 31.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled fruits are urged to throw them away immediately, and investigators are working to identify any additional cantaloupe products that may be contaminated.
Canadian officials are also probing an outbreak involving the same strain of salmonella discovered in Malichita brand cantaloupe.
The number of people sick in the outbreak is likely much higher than reported so far, and states without known infections could be impacted. Symptoms of salmonella can take days to show, and it typically takes three to four weeks to determine if a case is connected to the outbreak.
Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with the illnesses typically lasting four to seven days. Salmonella can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Fox News