There’s Another Salmonella Papaya Outbreak

Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on June 29, 2019

The end of the week brought yet another repeat offender – papayas. Yes, there is another Salmonella Papaya Outbreak. Yes, it is imported papayas. Yes, we are doing another face palm. Here’s everything we know at this time:

The Announcement

On June 28, 2019, the CDC, FDA, public health, and regulatory officials announced that, in several states, they are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Uganda infections linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico and sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

At this time, there are 62 reported cases in 8 states. Of those sick, 23 have been hospitalized.

Fast Facts

We do some information while the health agencies continue their investigation. Here are some fast facts for you on this outbreak:

• Epidemiologic evidence and early product distribution information indicate that whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico and sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are a likely source of this outbreak.
• Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 14, 2019 to June 8, 2019. Most illnesses have occurred since April 2019.
• Twenty-three people have been hospitalized. No deaths attributed to Salmonella have been reported.
•  Ill people range in age from 1 to 86 years, with a median age of 60.
• Fifty-three percent of ill people are female.
• Of 35 people with available information, 23 (66%) have been hospitalized.
• No deaths attributed to Salmonella have been reported.
• Of 33 ill people with available information, 22 (67%) reported being of Hispanic ethnicity.
• In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of 21 people who were interviewed, 16 (76%) reported eating papayas.
• Two people who lived in different households got sick in Connecticut after eating papayas purchased from the same grocery store location in the week before becoming ill. This provides additional evidence that papayas are a likely source of this outbreak.
• One ill person in Florida had traveled to Connecticut in the week before they got sick.
• Officials are working to gather more information about an ill person in Texas.

CDC, FDA Recommendations

The CDC recommends that those who live in or travel to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island who have purchased whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico not eat them. Residents are urged to check their homes. Throw the papayas away, even if some of them were eaten and no one has gotten sick. It is also a good idea to sanitize any surface which has come in contact with these papayas.

The CDC also recommends:

• Do not eat fruit salads or other mixes that include papayas from Mexico
• If you aren’t sure the papaya you bought is from Mexico, you can ask the place of purchase.
• When in doubt, don’t eat the papaya. Throw it out.
• Wash and sanitize places where papayas were stored: countertops and refrigerator drawers or shelves.

In the meantime, the FDA strongly advises food service, importers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers and other food service providers from all states to hold whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico.

The species, size, and type of papaya has not yet been identified.

Investigations Ongoing

At this time, the FDA, CDC, and local health agencies are actively investigating this outbreak. What brands, farms, distributors, and retailers that sold the infected products have not yet been released.

The agencies are collecting records to determine the source of the papayas that ill people ate. We do know that early product distribution information available indicates that papayas that made people sick were imported from Mexico.

More cases may be linked to this outbreak, especially as the outbreak numbers have only been confirmed since June 26, 2019. Illnesses might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported — which takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.

History Repeats Itself

This is not the first time we have seen a Salmonella Papaya Outbreak.  Papayas have been an ongoing concern over the last few years.  With recent DNA fingerprinting linking those who are sick with imported papayas, the concern is growing even greater.  In 2017, there were several outbreaks involving several different strains of the harmful bacteria Salmonella across several farms in Mexico, investigators are scrambling to keep up. There was even an outbreak linked to Salmonella Uganda, but it is unknown if the two outbreaks are related.

Here’s a breakdown of what we saw back in 2017:

• Four separate multi-state outbreaks linked to Maradol Papayas imported from Mexico
• The strains of Salmonella affected 251 people in total with SalmonellaThompson affecting 144, Kiambu – 54, Anatum – 20, Agona – 12, Gaminara and Urbana – 7, Newport and Infantis – 4, Senftenberg – 3.
• All of these outbreaks and strains together affected a total of 25 states.
• Most of the cases were reported from New York and New Jersey. With Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts affected at a moderate level.
• Mexican farms  associated with these outbreaks were:
  • Rancho El Ganadero located in Colima, Mexico
  • Carica De Campeche located in Tenabo, Campeche, México
  • El Zapotanito in La Huerta located in Jalisco, Mexico
  • Productores y Exportadores de Carica Papaya  de Tecomán y Costa Alegre Tijuana located in Baja California, Mexico.
• Four brands of Maradol papayas were recalled
  • Caribena Brand Papayas
  • Cavi Brand Papayas
  • Valery
  • Frutas Selectas Brand

How Many People Get Salmonellosis?

Salmonella bacteria cause Salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is one of the most common foodborne illnesses.  The CDC estimates that each year, 1,200,000 Americans become ill with Salmonella food poisoning.  Approximately 19,000 people are hospitalized and 450 Americans die each year from Salmonellosis.

What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?

Salmonellosis symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after infection.  Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.  Salmonellosis symptoms generally last 4 to 7 days.  Diarrhea and dehydration can be so severe that hospitalization becomes necessary.  Infants, older adults, and people with impaired immune systems are at the highest risk.  Some people develop reactive arthritis. Urgent medical attention is recommended for anyone feeling sick after eating papayas.

The Lange Law Firm

Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water.  When corporations cause Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks or Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable.  The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is the only law firm in the nation solely focused on representing families in food poisoning lawsuits and Legionnaires disease lawsuits.

If you or your child was infected with Salmonella after eating papayas in this Salmonella Papaya Outbreak and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we have a Salmonella lawyer ready to help you.  Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.

By: Candess Zona-Mendola, Editor (Non-Lawyer)