On Thursday, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) voted to add Cronobacter sakazakii infections to the list of nationally notifiable conditions that health departments count and report to the CDC. The CDC said it would support the CSTE’s position and add Cronobacter to its national list next year. Cronobacter sakazakii causes a rare but potentially deadly infection in newborns. It is present in the environment and can contaminate powdered infant formula. Only two states – Minnesota and Michigan – require that doctors report Cronobacter infections to their health departments. In 2022, four cases of Cronobacter infections in infants – including two who died – triggered a nationwide recall of infant formula. The recall and the subsequent shutdown of the Sturgis, MI, infant formula manufacturing plant for cleaning worsened ongoing supply chain problems, sparking a prolonged infant formula shortage. “Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP) is confident that the vote today by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) to include Cronobacter sakazakii on the nationally notifiable diseases list will have a meaningful impact on infant mortality. @ https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/29/health/cronobacter-notifiable-diseases/index.html
