Civil Law

Death toll in Listeria outbreak traced to supplemental shakes increases to 12

Another death has been confirmed in an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections traced to supplemental shakes.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that there are now 12 confirmed deaths in the outbreak, which has sickened 38 people across 21 states. Thirty-seven of the patients required hospitalization.

The supplemental shakes were distributed by Lyons Magnus LLC to long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and were not available for retail sale. 

The shakes are packaged in 4-ounce cartons and packaged under … Read the rest

Civil Law

Spanish Botulism outbreak prompts report on risks

Spanish scientists have produced a report on the growth of Clostridium botulinum and the risk of botulism following an outbreak that affected 12 people in 2023.

In June and July 2023, an increase in botulism was detected in Spain linked to consumption of prepared food packaged under vacuum or in a modified atmosphere. This association was not confirmed microbiologically as the presence of Clostridium botulinum, or botulinum toxin, was not detected in the analysis carried out on dishes prepared from … Read the rest

Civil Law

Red Cow and Hen House E. coli Outbreak linked to Wolverine Packing

And, undercooked burgers.

Minnesota health officials are urging people to contact their health care provider if they ate a hamburger, especially if undercooked, at a table-service restaurant since Oct. 31 and then developed diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea, in the following week.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified at least 10 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in people who had eaten burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow, a table-service restaurant chain with locations in Hennepin, Ramsey … Read the rest

Civil Law

E. coli O157:H7 outbreak reported among students and parents in St. Louis County

St. Louis County health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections among students and parents at a local high school.

The sick people from Rockwood Summit High School all attended an off-campus event, according to the St. Louis County Department of Health.

As of Nov. 14, there were 19 patients. Some of the patients have been laboratory confirmed but others are awaiting test results. The health department has not publicly reported what event the sick people attended.… Read the rest

Civil Law

Huntley High School E. coli Outbreak – what you need to know

I have been doing this kind of work for over 30 years and I seldom have seen such a detailed report as this done in any outbreak. Kudos to the folks at McHenry County and others involved in the investigation. Below are the bullet points – full report can be found HERE.

We do represent several of the kids impacted and will determine next steps after a few more reads of the report.

  • The most likely mode of transmission of
… Read the rest
Civil Law

One dead in UK Listeria outbreak

Health officials in the United Kingdom are investigating a potential outbreak of Listeria that has killed one person.

Whole genome sequencing of listeriosis samples by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified three cases with one death, possibly as part of an outbreak.

Patients are aged 59 or older and are from the south of England or London. One person fell sick in November 2022, while the other two became ill in February 2023.

A similar strain as the … Read the rest

Civil Law

Austrian officials find Listeria at company linked to outbreak

Officials investigating a deadly outbreak in Austria have found Listeria at the company thought to be responsible.

Listeria isolates with the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain were detected in three environmental samples from the firm in Lower Austria.

Käserei Gloggnitz previously recalled all kajmak, drinking yogurt and cream cheese products because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Kajmak is a type of cheese.

The Listeria strain behind the incident does not match any of those in the AGES Listeria … Read the rest

Civil Law

Nearly 200 sick in UK E. coli O157 outbreak

Public health officials in the United Kingdom are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 that has sickened almost 200 people in a month.

Since early September, 192 genetically linked cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157 have been identified in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The majority of people sick are adults but there have been no deaths linked to the incident.

No source for the rise in infections has yet been identified. 

Dr. Lesley Larkin, head … Read the rest