Hundreds of people are sick in an outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections that has been traced to imported jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
According to the CDC there are 345 confirmed patients spread across 27 states coast to coast. Of those with complete information available, 36 have been hospitalized according to the FDA. No deaths have been reported.
There are likely many more sick people than are currently reflected in the patient count because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella. The CDC estimates that for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 who go undetected.
The Food and Drug Administration has traced the source of the Salmonella to jalapeño peppers that Coast Citrus Distributors primarily distributed to restaurants, wholesalers and food service companies. The FDA is working to determine if recalled jalapeños went to grocery stores. The importer received the peppers from a single grower in Mexico. The implicated peppers have been recalled.
“After being notified about the outbreak, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba stopped serving affected jalapeño peppers. Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak,” according to the CDC.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 19 to July 20. Of 191 people interviewed, 177 reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14 to July 14.
States with patients are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever, usually within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
