FDA investigating 2 new Salmonella outbreaks; sources not yet determined

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating two new Salmonella outbreaks of unknown origin.

Both of the outbreaks are from Salmonella Enteritidis. One has sickened 50 people while 22 patients have been identified in the other. The FDA has initiated traceback for both of the outbreaks, but the agency has not reported what foods are being traced.

The FDA has not reported how old the patients are or where they live.

Salmonella contamination does not cause food to look, smell or taste bad. Anyone can become ill from Salmonella bacteria. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.   

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 investigate three outbreaks of infections from Listeria monocytogenes. For an outbreak first reported on March 5, the number of patients is holding steady at three. For the other two outbreaks, posted on March 13 and April 9, the patient counts stand at 30 and 15, respectively. The FDA has not yet determined a source for the pathogen in any of the outbreaks

For the Listeria outbreaks posted on March 5 and April 9, the FDA has begun traceback, on-site inspections and sample testing. The agency has not reported any details about those efforts. For the Listeria outbreak posted March 13, the FDA has begun on-site inspection and sample testing but has not reported what location is being inspected or what is being tested.

As with Salmonella, food contaminated with Listeria does not look, smell or taste bad. It can cause life-threatening infections and the elderly are particularly susceptible to serious symptoms. Infections from Listeria can be difficult to diagnose because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to the pathogen for symptoms to develop. Also, the symptoms can mimic other kinds of illnesses, so specific laboratory testing is required to diagnose patients.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness.