Gotta cool things: It was the staph (aureus) in food that sickened at least 86 kids at Alabama day cares

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Douglas Powell

Public health officials on Thursday said Staphylococcus aureus was found in samples of food served at Sunnyside Child Care Center’s two locations, Mary McIntyre of the Alabama Department of Public Health said.

Staphylococcus aureus is known for causing food poisoning, skin infections and other medical issues. Children were admitted to local hospitals with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and other symptoms Tuesday. Most of the children were between ages 1 and 4.

State health officer Don Williamson has said the food was likely served during an 11 a.m. lunch period and reports of sick children started coming in about 3 p.m. Foods the children were served included bologna, chicken and apples, Williamson said.

86 kids sick from 2 Alabama day cares

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Douglas Powell

The Alabama Department of Public Health is now investigating reports of widespread illness after 86 children, all sharing similar symptoms, were seen at three Montgomery hospitals. The children attended two different day care centers in the area.

Thirty children were hospitalized with symptoms of lethargy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps. All but one child has been discharged.

A kitchen at the Sunnyside Child Care Center has recently been closed for the investigation. The kitchen prepares meals for more than 300 children who attend the two day care centers.

Parents whose children attended these day care centers and became ill are advised not to use any day care providers as the investigation continues.

38 children from Alabama daycare hospitalized

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Douglas Powell

So far 38 children from a Montgomery daycare center, all under the age of 10, have come to the Baptist South Medical Center emergency room with foodborne illnesses, and hospital officials anticipate more may be coming in later tonight. So far the hospital has not seen any illnesses that have appeared life-threatening.

“As of about 30 minutes ago, we have admitted eight, and we are opening a unit specifically for these patients,” said hospital spokeswoman Merrill South at a little after 7 p.m. Tuesday night. “There is a possibility more will come in tonight. We really don’t know what that number may look like.”

The children came in exhibiting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, but South said while doctors have determined it is a foodborne illness, there is still no diagnosis of what kind of food poisoning is involved.

While it is almost certain that it is something the children ate at Sunny Side Child Care Center, he said foodborne illnesses cover a large number of causes, and until they determine what the cause was it is difficult to speculate on the possible severity.

19 sick, 1 dead; Alabama Extension system ends E. coli silence, says meals served safely

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Douglas Powell

I figured I’d wait and see what the Alabama Cooperative Extension System had to say about a foodborne illness outbreak at one of its events – it is Extension, which gets millions of taxpayer dollars to inform people about food – but nothing surfaced.

At least 19 people reported becoming ill after attending an ACES-hosted luncheon at Bridge Builders Church on Beltline Road on May 30, 2014. A private lab has confirmed three cases of E. coli and salmonella in the ongoing investigation.

Clarence Hampton, 71, died six days after the event. According to a family member, Hampton’s doctor said he tested positive for the E. coli bacteria. Autopsy results have not been released.

“The Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Program Unit of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System under its Successful Aging Initiative was the sponsor of an SAI Conference held in Morgan County on May 30, 2014,” according to the unsigned statement ACES provided to The Daily. “As is customary, meals were served during the conference with strict adherence to all procedures and regulations for health and safety.”

The ACES statement said it is cooperating with health authorities.

“Over 300 persons attended the conference and were served meals,” the ACES statement said. “We have been made aware of two complaints that were filed with the Health Department alleging food poisoning emanating from the event.”

According to Michael Tubbs, executive director of Community Action Partnership in Decatur, a member of his staff contacted ACES a week after the event to report that some from CAPNA who attended the luncheon were getting sick. Tubbs said at least two dozen CAPNA employees and volunteers became sick, including Hampton, who worked as a senior companion.

“We were not responsible for the event, but we are responsible for our volunteers,” Tubbs said Monday. “I am disappointed that others did not address this early on, when they could have and should have.”

According to its website, ACES “operates as the primary outreach organization for the land-grant functions of Alabama A&M and Auburn universities.”

19 illnesses in Alabama linked to church meal

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Ben Chapman

Community dinners, the fellowship-fostering events often organized by churches are a nostalgic link to the past when a congregation would financially support members’ activities through chili, pancakes or barbecue. They also, according to CDC’s Rob Tauxe, have created some of the easily traced foodborne illness outbreaks. Like this 2013 outbreak in North Carolina.

And it looks like something really bad happened recently at a Morgan County, Alabama church dinner. According to WAFF, at least 19 illnesses including a death are being investigated. The affected folks ate a catered chicken meal at an unnamed church.

The State Health Department is investigating a potential foodborne outbreak in Morgan County. One person is confirmed dead. There are currently two confirmed cases.

There has been 19 reports of gastro-intestinal illnesses at three local hospitals. So far, two of those have tested positive for E. coli, Salmonella, or both, and the person who died had E. coli poisoning.

An epidemiologist with the Alabama Department of Public Health, Doctor Mary McIntyre, said they are looking for a common source, and they need to test more specimens. There is one common thread with several of the patients who had gastro-intestinal illnesses, and that’s that several of them ate a catered chicken meal at a church in Morgan County on May 30.

The health department wants us to tell anyone who has been asked by them to provide a specimen to please consider it, because they are having a tough time getting the number they need for testing.

There is one common thread with several of the patients who had gastro-intestinal illnesses, and that’s that several of them ate a catered chicken meal at a church in Morgan County on May 30.

Sorta odd that two pathogens are involved in the same event. A list of outbreaks linked to community dinners and temporary events can be found here.

12 sick from Salmonella possibly linked to Alabama restaurant

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Douglas Powell

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported a possible foodborne outbreak of salmonella in the Russellville area on Wednesday.

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers said three people have positive salmonella cultures and nine additional cases are being investigated. The department is gathering information to identify possible common sources.

Some Russellville residents contacted WHNT News 19, claiming to have contracted salmonella from a local restaurant. We took action and contacted the health department to investigate. So far, no further information has been released.

6 confirmed sick with Salmonella linked to bean fundraiser in Alabama, dozens ill

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Douglas Powell

At least six cases of Salmonella have been confirmed in Limestone County, Alabama, and officials believe those who fell ill may have contracted it at an annual bean dinner fundraiser held Friday in Athens.

Kelli Powers, chief executive officer of Athens-Limestone Hospital said, “We have seen dozens of people Saturday, Sunday and today with mainly diarrhea but also vomiting and nausea,” Powers said. “There are about 24 people in our waiting room right now who have been waiting about an hour with symptoms.”

Helpful food safety tip: do not work with raw chicken or meat and change diaper at same time

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Douglas Powell

As the outbreak of Salmonella from those eating a common meal at a funeral in Alabama reached 67, the Alabama Department of Public Health offered WTVA News this advice, “Do not work with raw chicken or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at the same time.”

Hepatitis A with your McMuffin? Alabama McDonald’s employee positive, may have exposed customers

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Tuscaloosa News reports customers who ate at the McDonald’s in Northport on McFarland Boulevard between Feb. 28 and March 14 may have been exposed to hepatitis A, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Customers who visited the restaurant on March 14 or during breakfast hours on March 16 are asked to contact their health-care provider as soon as possible to receive a hepatitis A vaccine, because an infected employee may have spread the virus.

“Hepatitis A vaccine and immune globulin can prevent hepatitis A virus infection, but only when given within 14 days of exposure,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer.

That means that anyone who ate at the restaurant on those dates should receive treatment no later than Friday. People previously vaccinated for hepatitis A are considered protected from the virus.

Do you know where that finger’s been? The risks of potlucks

Posted on December 12, 2008 by Douglas Powell

Yesterday was the departmental Xmas potluck.

I didn’t go.

Not cause of the newborn, I just, on those rare occasions I get invited, avoid potlucks. There’s the ‘Hey, Food Safety Man, would you eat this,’ to which I politely smile and say sure, the biggest risk is not eating at all, cause I’m trying to be publicly polite, and meanwhile I’m not touching the sprout salad, the unpasteurized juices, the raw oysters (a big hit in Kansas) and the beef that’s been sitting at room temperature for 14 hours.

Besides, once I start pontificating, I can’t shut up. Maybe I just like to hear myself talk.

Some middle school students in Birmingham, Alabama, found out the hard way – meaning they barfed a lot – the risks of potlucks.

The Birmingham News reports that nearly half of the students in a Smith Middle School language arts class became ill Friday after tasting meals that students had prepared as part of an assignment.

Birmingham schools spokeswoman Michaelle Chapman said the students were to write about their favorite dish and how it was prepared. The teacher allowed them to make and bring the dish to class if they wished.

Of the 18 students, 16 of them brought in dishes and eight students got sick after tasting them.

After seeing this story, one colleague wrote his daughter’s principal, asking if there was a policy about bringing food into schools to share with others. I did the same years ago after my daughter was almost exposed to unpasteurized cider as part of a class trip to the farm.

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