Local
Multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to pre-cut melon
On Friday, Indianapolis-based Caito Foods, LLC, issued a voluntary recall of fresh cut melon products in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing investigation of Salmonella Carrau infections. Ninety-three cases have been identified in nine states, including three cases in Minnesota after people ate pre-cut cantaloupe from the same Trader Joe’s store. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
Individuals became sick between March 4 and March 31, but additional illnesses may not yet be reported. Salmonella symptoms often begin 12 to 96 hours after exposure and include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Most people recover in five to seven days, but infections in high-risk groups such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals could be more serious.
The recall includes fresh cut honeydew melon, fresh cut cantaloupe, fresh cut watermelon, and fresh cut mixed fruit containing these melons, packaged in clear plastic clamshell packaging. Caito Foods has temporarily suspended the production of these products until the investigation is over. For a full list of recalled products and the retailer where these products are sold, please visit the FDA link below. Consumers are advised to throw away and not eat these products. Whole melons are not known to be affected.
CDC: Cleaning your refrigerator after a recall
National
USDA seeks public comment on NPIP updates
The United States Department of Agriculture is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Program Standards. The NPIP General Conference Committee meets regularly to discuss significant poultry health issues and makes recommendations for updates based on new science and technology. Comments received on or before May 13 will be considered.
NPIP is a voluntary, cooperative federal-state-industry program that began in the 1930s to improve poultry and poultry products by controlling for specific diseases. Initially designed to eliminate Salmonella pullorum, the program now includes testing and monitoring for other salmonella diseases, mycoplasmal diseases, and avian influenza. Flocks, hatcheries, dealers, and slaughter plants for waterfowl, turkeys, game birds, and commercial, exhibition, and backyard poultry can all participate.
The proposed updates include updating or clarifying procedures and protocols for Salmonella isolation, Salmonella examination of cull birds, hatchery and flock sanitation, and Mycoplasma testing. Recommended additions to the program include a new Salmonella diagnostic testing kit, using current National Veterinary Services Laboratory protocols for avian influenza testing, and new dealer sanitation requirements. The proposal also recommends removing outdated testing procedures for sanitation.
National Poultry Improvement Plan
International
Suspected anthrax outbreak kills buffaloes in Kenyan national park
At least 10 buffalo deaths have been reported in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru National Park since March. Last week, the first case was confirmed to be anthrax and samples from other carcasses are undergoing testing in Nairobi’s national laboratory. Veterinarians and park staff have contained the outbreak through vaccination and appropriate carcass disposal, but monitoring is ongoing. The principal secretary of Kenya’s State Department of Wildlife says that park visitors will not be at risk if they adhere to the park’s rules and avoid contact with wild animals.
Home to over 4,000 buffaloes, the Lake Nakuru region has experienced 10 anthrax outbreaks since 1973. In 2015, an outbreak killed over 700 wild animals. Officials suspect prolonged hot and dry conditions in the park have contributed to the recent deaths.
Anthrax is a serious, zoonotic disease caused by spore-forming bacteria found naturally in soil. It affects domestic and wild animals worldwide, and humans can become infected through contact with infected animals, inhalation of spores, or ingestion of meat or milk from an infected animal. Depending on the route of transmission, the disease may cause skin, respiratory, or gastrointestinal symptoms and can be fatal if left untreated.
Lauren Bernstein
Lauren received her BS in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. Following a Rotary International site visit to South Africa as an undergraduate student, she decided to focus her prospective veterinary career on public health, specifically on issues involving diseases at the human-animal-environment interface. She completed her veterinary education at the University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine. When she's not in the office, she enjoys yoga, embracing the outdoor activities in Minneapolis, and finding excuses to talk about her rescue cat.