The outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to imported cucumbers has grown to include 732 sick, 150 hospitalized, and 4 dead, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the last update on September 29, 2015, 61 more ill people have been reported, and one ill person has been reported from Maryland, bringing the number of states affected to 35.
The outbreak case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (14), Arizona (114), Arkansas (11), California (192), Colorado (18), Hawaii (1), Idaho (24), Illinois (9), Indiana (3), Iowa (6), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Maryland (1), Minnesota (37), Missouri (11), Montana (14), Nebraska (6), Nevada (14), New Mexico (31), New York (6), North Dakota (6), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (20), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (9), South Dakota (3), Texas (34), Utah (53), Virginia (1), Washington (22), Wisconsin (40), and Wyoming (7). Illnesses began on July 3, 2015, and continue to September 25, 2015. Illnesses that occurred after September 8, 2015, may not yet be reported.
Patients range in age from younger than 1 year to 99 years, with a median age of 17. Fifty percent of ill persons are younger than 18 years. Most of the ill persons, or 55%, are female. Twenty-eight percent have been hospitalized as a result of their illness, which is higher than the usual 20% for typical Salmonella outbreaks.
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The reason for this higher hospitalization rate is likely because so many of the ill are children. Children’s immune systems are still developing, so they have more serious infections and can develop complications more easily than adults.
Unfortunately, this outbreak will probably grow again. Cucumbers have a shelf life of about two weeks. The recall from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce was issued on September 4, 2015. The recall from Custom Produce Sales for their Fat Boy cucumbers was issued on September 11, 2015. If someone bought cucumbers on either of those days and didn’t eat them until two weeks later, they may have been ill, seen a doctor, and their lab reports are still pending and have not yet been reported to public health officials.
If you ate cucumbers this summer or fall and have experienced the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, see your doctor, then call our experienced lawyers for help to protect your legal rights. The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains, and blood in the stool. Symptoms usually appear six hours to three days after you ingest food with the bacteria.
While most people get better on their own, some become so ill they must be hospitalized for dehydration or sepsis. In fact, Salmonella is very underreported in this country. Epidemiologists use a number called a “multiplier” to estimate how many Salmonella infections have actually occurred in an outbreak. That number is 30.3, which means that there are probably more than 22,000 people sick in this particular outbreak.
The cucumbers were recalled on September 4, 2015, but we don’t know exactly which stores and restaurants bought them and sold them to customers. We do know they were sold in these states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. They may have been distributed to other states as well.
They were sold in some Walmart, Winco, Food 4 Less, Ralphs, and Savemart stores, and may have been sold at In-N-Out Burger, Capital Grille, and Olive Garden. They were sold at Red Lobster restaurants in Minnesota and possibly other states since a Salmonella outbreak linked to that restaurant has been identified.
Food distributors, restaurants, and grocery stores are required by law to sell food that is wholesome and will not make you sick. You may be able to sue for compensation for pain and suffering if you are part of this outbreak. We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in food poisoning lawsuits. Call our attorneys today or fill out our online form for a free consultation.