The Food and Drug Administration has closed an investigation into an outbreak of infections from E. Coli O26 without having found the source of the pathogen.
The agency reports that the outbreak has ended with 13 patients having been identified. The FDA did not reveal any patient information, such as where the patients lived.
According to the agency’s most recent update, it first reported the outbreak to the public on July 26. The FDA initiated traceback efforts but did not report what food or foods were being traced as part of the investigation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not post any information about the outbreak, as is the agency’s practice when a source of the pathogen is not found.
In other outbreak news, FDA has ended its investigation into an outbreak of infections from the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. According to the agency’s update yesterday the outbreak has ended with a patient count of 59, which is up from 55 a week ago.
For the Cyclospora outbreak, the FDA initiated traceback, sample testing and onsite inspections. However the agency did not report what food was being traced or what was being tested. The agency also did not report what location had been inspected. The FDA first reported the outbreak on July 26.
In an ongoing investigation of illnesses caused by Listeria monocytogenes the FDA confirmed an ice cream product is likely the cause of the infections. The agency first reported the outbreak on Aug. 9, before the source of the pathogen was known.
On Aug. 10 the FDA posted an advisory stating that the outbreak was linked “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups produced by Real Kosher Ice Cream of Brooklyn, NY. Two people have been confirmed as outbreak patients and both have required hospitalization.
The ice cream was distributed to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
The ice cream has been recalled. For packaging codes and photos of the recalled products, click here.
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