Two new outbreaks under investigation

The Food and drug Administration is investigating two new foodborne outbreaks and is continuing its investigations into several others.

There is a new outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections that has sickened 18 people. The FDA has not reported the patients’ ages or where they live. The agency is in the early stages of its investigation and has not yet begun traceback, site inspections or sample testing.

There are likely many more patients in the outbreak than have been confirmed so far because some people do not seek medical treatment and others are not tested specifically for Salmonella infections, which can mimic other illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 people who go unreported.

In the other new outbreak, 24 patients have been confirmed infected with Cyclospora cayetanensis. The FDA has not yet reported the patients’ ages or where they live. The agency has begun traceback but has not yet reported what food it is tracing. 

Cyclosporine infections are caused by a microscopic parasite and its symptoms mimic other illnesses. The parasites are often found on fresh produce, with several outbreaks in the past traced to cilantro.

In ongoing outbreak news, in the investigation into a cluster of infections from Salmonella Anatum, sample testing has begun, but the FDA has not reported what food is being tested. The agency still has not released the ages of the 11 outbreak patients or where they live. The outbreak was first posted on July 9.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg traced to pistachio cream first reported on June 13, the patient count stands at four, according to the most recent report posted on June 13. The multistate outbreak has been traced to Emek brand Pistachio Cream manufactured by Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti in Turkey and imported to wholesale distributors, restaurants and food service locations in the United States.

The FDA was notified by the Minnesota Department of Health about a cluster of Salmonella illnesses and two Salmonella positive samples of Emek brand Pistachio Cream product that matched clinical cases by whole genome sequencing (WGS) in this outbreak. Retailers, restaurants and distributors that purchased Emek brand Pistachio Cream with a use-by date of Oct. 19, 2026 (TETT: 19/10/26 (DD/MM/YY)) and production code PNO: 241019 should not serve, sell, or further distribute product.

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