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The CDC reported that Listeria was found in samples of precooked chicken products. The source of precooked chicken is being investigated. CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) investigate this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections. As of July 2, 2021, three people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from two states (Delaware and Texas). All three hospitalized people and one death have been reported from Texas. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 6, 2021, to June 5, 2021. All three people were in a long-term care facility or hospital when they got sick. These facilities served many food items, including meals with precooked chicken. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are identical. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food. USDA-FSIS found the outbreak strain of Listeria in two samples of precooked chicken products during routine product testing. Along with the epidemiologic data, this suggests that people likely got sick from eating pre-cooked chicken. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/precooked-chicken-07-21/details.html

CDC researches published (J Food Prot (2021) 84 (7): 1122–1126) a study intended to determine if avocados have been a source of listeriosis. The team conducted a retrospective review of epidemiological data for clinical isolates that were genetically related to isolates from avocados. While to date, avocados have not been identified as the source of any outbreaks of L. monocytogenes infections in the United States, can they be a source of infection. Using a national database, they identified clusters containing clinical and at least one avocado isolate. Clusters were selected based upon isolation dates, cluster and composition size, and available food history data.  For each cluster, they assessed (i) whether avocado consumption was higher among case-patients in the cluster than among those with sporadic illnesses and (ii) whether the only food isolates within the cluster were from avocados. If both conditions were met, the link was considered “likely,” if one condition was met, the link was considered “possible,” and if neither condition was met, evidence was “limited.” Two clusters were classified as having “limited” evidence for a link to avocados, two as “possible,” and one as “likely.”  For the cluster considered “likely,” avocado consumption was significantly higher among case patients than sporadic illnesses. The study suggests that avocados could be a source of listeriosis in the United States.  @ https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/84/7/1122/461503/Evaluation-of-Avocados-as-a-Possible-Source-of?redirectedFrom=fulltext

The U.S. FDA released the “Cyclospora Prevention, Response, and Research Action Plan.” The plan focuses on improving prevention, enhancing response activities, and filling knowledge gaps to help prevent Cyclospora contamination of foods and help prepare for responding to future outbreaks. The FDA developed new testing methods for Cyclospora to help the agency to identify positive samples.

According to the CDC, there have been roughly 6,000 domestically acquired cases of Cyclospora over the last three years.  In 2019 the FDA created the Cyclospora Task Force to illness caused by Cyclospora in produce. The task force action plan will serve as a strategic guide to improve prevention, enhance response activities and fill knowledge gaps about the presence of Cyclospora in or on foods. The plan includes developing and delivering prevention-focused education materials and encouragement to develop rapid test kits to detect Cyclospora specifically. The plan also focuses on expanding laboratory capacity to detect the organism. The FDA intends to work with CDC to better understand cyclosporiasis’ case distribution across the U.S. and advance genotyping methods in clinical, food, and environmental samples. The plan intends to better understand the prevalence of Cyclospora in agricultural water and encourage data sharing to help stakeholders identify trends associated with Cyclospora contamination. @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-cyclospora-prevention-response-and-research-action-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The U.S. FDA released the “Cyclospora Prevention, Response, and Research Action Plan.” The plan focuses on improving prevention, enhancing response activities, and filling knowledge gaps to help prevent Cyclospora contamination of foods and help prepare for responding to future outbreaks. The FDA developed new testing methods for Cyclospora to help the agency to identify positive samples.

According to the CDC, there have been roughly 6,000 domestically acquired cases of Cyclospora over the last three years.  In 2019 the FDA created the Cyclospora Task Force to illness caused by Cyclospora in produce. The task force action plan will serve as a strategic guide to improve prevention, enhance response activities and fill knowledge gaps about the presence of Cyclospora in or on foods. The plan includes developing and delivering prevention-focused education materials and encouragement to develop rapid test kits to detect Cyclospora specifically. The plan also focuses on expanding laboratory capacity to detect the organism. The FDA intends to work with CDC to better understand cyclosporiasis’ case distribution across the U.S. and advance genotyping methods in clinical, food, and environmental samples. The plan intends to better understand the prevalence of Cyclospora in agricultural water and encourage data sharing to help stakeholders identify trends associated with Cyclospora contamination. @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-cyclospora-prevention-response-and-research-action-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery