A multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly that had previously sickened 100 has expanded to include at least 116 victims across 20 states, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In this latest outbreak report, released Wednesday, CDC reports that, “The investigation has not conclusively identified a food source,” however evidence suggests that sushi may be the contaminated product.
Last week CDC announced that an unusually high percentage of those sickened reported eating sushi, sashimi, or “similar foods” in the week preceding the onset of symptoms. An internal e-mail from FDA – which is collaborating with CDC to investigate the outbreak – reported that CDC thought sushi was the likely source, with spicy tuna rolls “highly suspect.”
Cases are largely centered in states along the Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico, but also extend up into the Midwest. The number of sickened individuals in each state is as follows:
Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (5), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (11), Massachusetts (8), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (7), New York (24), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5) and Wisconsin (12).
Among those infected, 12 are reported to have been hospitalized. No deaths have been associated with the outbreak. Half of those infected are female, and victims range in age from 4 to 78 years old.
The CDC says that if an outbreak source is identified, the agency will notify the public “and take further steps to prevent additional illnesses.”
Illnesses related to the outbreak were first reported on January 28, and current case counts are accurate as of March 31. Because of the lag between the onset of an infection and the time it is reported to the health department, CDC notes that illnesses that occurred after March 14 may not yet be reported.