In the news

Two people in Connecticut became infected with Vibrio vulnificus. They died after swimming in two separate locations on Long Island Sound, according to Christopher Boyle, director of communications for the state’s Department of Public Health. According to the Department of Public Health, a third person was infected in July after eating raw oysters from an out-of-state establishment. The virus was also detected in an individual who died in Long Island, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. According to the news release, officials are still investigating the death in Suffolk County to determine whether the bacteria was encountered in New York waters or elsewhere. According to the CDC, Vibrio vulnificus causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year. @ https://abc7chicago.com/vibrio-vulnificus-bacteria-oysters-symptoms-infections/13662071/

The CDC published (Hanley MN, Altman SM, Phillips A. Notes from the Field: Outbreak of Norovirus Linked to a Food Establishment — Illinois, November 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:897–898.) on a large Norovirus outbreak resulting from a single restaurant in Illinois. On November 26, 2022, the Tazewell (Illinois) County Health Department (TCHD) contacted the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) concerning a large acute gastroenteritis outbreak linked to a restaurant in Illinois. TCHD conducted an outbreak investigation with the assistance of IDPH, including a case-control study that identified 317 norovirus infections among respondents (excluding the primary patient) who dined at the restaurant during November 19–26, 2022. Overall, 317 case-patients (three with confirmed and 314 with probable norovirus infection) and 40 control patients (persons who dined at the restaurant during November 19–26 and did not become ill) were interviewed. Although the outbreak originated in Tazewell County, ill persons resided in 10 additional Illinois counties and 12 other states. Environmental and epidemiologic investigations indicated that contamination occurred throughout the food preparation process. Preparation with ungloved hands by a food handler who had vomited on November 22, and worked during November 21–23, likely served as a main contributor to the outbreak. The restaurant voluntarily closed on November 26 for disinfection and reopened on November 29 after a health inspection. @ https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7233a4.htm?s_cid=mm7233a4_w

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) reported that a dispensary in Arizona had recalled a batch of THC gummies due to concerns about Salmonella contamination. On August 3, DHS advised purchasers of the Grape Cloud 9 Gummies 100mg (batch number C9G04102023) to dispose of them. After reviewing the product’s testing documentation,  the ADHS detected the potential contamination during a routine inspection. The ADHS then reportedly contacted the company that produced the gummies – Nirvana Center, which took “immediate action” to work with all distribution and retail partners to remove any potentially impacted products from store shelves. No illnesses were reported to the ADHS. The Cloud 9 Gummies recall follows another Salmonella-related summons by the ADHS in June. In June, three cannabis concentrate products and one brand of flower were voluntarily recalled due to concerns over Salmonella and Aspergillus contamination. All were produced from cannabis cultivated by the company Cannabist. @ https://www.analyticalcannabis.com/news/arizona-regulators-recall-gummies-due-to-salmonella-risk-314890#:~:text=The%20Cloud%209%20Gummies%20recall,cultivated%20by%20the%20company%20Cannabist.

The FDA is cautioning pet owners not to feed their pets certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food, made by Arrow Reliance Inc., after FDA samples from the lots listed below tested positive for Salmonella.  The products include (i) Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe with Organic Vegetables for Dogs, Lot 9774, manufactured on Jun 13, 2023. (ii) Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9795, manufactured on Jun 28, 2023. (iii) Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 9830, manufactured on Jul 19, 2023. The products are in white and clear plastic packages. The dog food has blue labeling, and the cat food has blue and green labeling. Each package weighs two pounds and consists of four separate units. The FDA recommended that the manufacturer voluntarily recall these products and notify the public, but the company has not yet done so.  @ https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-advisory-do-not-feed-certain-lots-darwins-natural-pet-products-dogs-cats-due-salmonella?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery