Patient counts in outbreaks are increasing

The patient count in a Salmonella outbreak is increasing, but officials have not yet been able to determine a source for the pathogen.

There are now 53 confirmed patients, up from 47 a week ago, in the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration has not reported any demographic information about the patients or where they live. 

The agency has initiated traceback efforts but has not reported what food or foods are being traced. The FDA first posted information on the outbreak on June 19.

Other outbreak news
In investigating infections from Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA continues to work on traceback. The agency has not yet reported what food or foods are being traced. There are two confirmed patients. The agency first reported the outbreak on May 22.

It can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to appear, so patient identification and food traceback is particularly difficult.

An outbreak traced to Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate bars and other candies continues growing, with 39 people reporting severe reactions. Twenty-three of them have required hospitalization. A variety of severe reactions have been reported, including respiratory failure.

Testing has shown that Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate bars are tainted with dangerous chemicals. Testing has begun on Diamond Shruumz brand dummies and cones.

The edibles are being sold nationwide online and at retailers such as vape shops and retailers that sell hemp-derived products such as cannabidiol (CBD) or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC). A list of the specific retailers is not available yet.

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