Michigan Salmonella Cases Linked to CDC Cantaloupe Case

By CnAgri2012-08-23 20:04:29 Print

The Michigan departments of Community Health (MDCH), Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and local health departments are currently working with 19 other states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that has occurred since July 7, including six cases in Michigan. Of the Michigan cases, three have occurred in children and three in adults. Illness onsets were from mid-to-late July, and there has been one known hospitalization.

"Salmonella is an illness that can cause serious infections in otherwise healthy individuals but especially children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems," said Dr. Dean Sienko, Interim Chief Medical Executive at MDCH. "We are urging Michigan residents to follow the guidance from MDCH and MDARD to protect their health and the health of their families."

Including the Michigan cases, there have been 141 cases nationwide linked to this investigation. Ill persons are reporting a high frequency of eating cantaloupes. Preliminary findings indicate that cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak. MDARD is assisting in the investigation to further identify the distribution of the contaminated melons.

Anyone who recently purchased cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana is advised not to eat them and to dispose of them. A farm in southwestern Indiana is withdrawing its cantaloupe from the marketplace and has agreed to cease distributing them for the rest of the growing season. Based on the available information, consumers can continue to purchase and eat cantaloupes that did not originate in southwestern Indiana.

"Many cantaloupes have the growing area identified with a sticker on the fruit, but if no sticker is present, consumers should ask the grocer where the melons were purchased to identify the source," said Kevin Besey, director of MDARD's Food and Dairy Division. "The best advice to follow is, 'When in doubt, throw it out,' especially if you cannot determine where the melons were grown."

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called salmonella. Most persons infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. The elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. Individuals who believe they may have become ill with salmonella should contact their health care provider.