Salmonella Outbreak Possibly Unrelated to Tomatoes
June 30th, 2008 amy
As an update to the fruitless hunt for the tomato source responsible for a nationwide salmonella outbreak sickening more than 800 people and hospitalizing at least 95, FDA officials are now toying with the theory that tomatoes might not be to blame after all.
The widening outbreak — with 810 people confirmed ill — means whatever is making people sick could very well still be on the market, federal health officials warned on Friday.
The Associated Press reports that tomatoes remain the top suspect and the advice on which ones consumers should avoid hasn’t changed, according to FDA food safety chief Dr. David Acheson.
However, he said it is possible that tomatoes being harvested in states considered safe could be picking up salmonella germs in packing sheds, warehouses or other facilities currently under investigation.
“The source of contamination has been ongoing at least through early June. And we don’t have any evidence that whatever the source is, it’s been removed from the market,” said Dr. Patricia Griffin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps typically start eight to 48 hours after salmonella infection and can last a week. Many people recover without treatment. In fact, the CDC estimates that for every confirmed salmonella patient, there can be 30 to 40 others who didn’t see a doctor or weren’t tested — although fewer are uncounted during headline-grabbing outbreaks.
