Tag Archives: Shigella

Shigellosis outbreak in Ohio

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Franklin County and Columbus, Ohio are currently suffering from a shigellosis outbreak.  Since June 1, the city and Franklin County health departments have recorded 100 cases of infection with Shigella, which causes diarrhea and is easily spread from person to person.  This is in stark contrast to the 13 cases reported in 2007.

The source of the infection is still unknown, but Columbus Public Health workers are focusing on day-care centers where the disease might be spreading.

Shigellosis can cause diarrhea, which may be bloody, as well as severe dehydration and stomach cramps.  The bacteria is typically most severe in the immunocompromised, such as infants and the elderly

Shigella is usually passed from stools to fingers, or through poor hand washing habits. Food handlers who failed to wash their hands can also transmit it through infected food.  Shigella also has been known to contaminate pools, so people should avoid swimming if suffering from diarrhea.  The best way to avoid shigellosis is through good hand washing practices.

Columbus and Franklin County’s health commissioners, advise the following practices to limit the spread of this infection:
* Wash hands with soap carefully and frequently, especially after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers, and before preparing foods or beverages.
* Do not swim or prepare food for others while ill with diarrhea.
* Dispose of soiled diapers properly and disinfect diaper changing areas after using them.

LA Salad company sues inspection agency over shigella-in-carrots recall

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The Los Angeles Salad Company is, according to a Vancouver radio station, suing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency over this summer’s massive recall of baby carrots.

On Aug. 17, 2007, CFIA issued two warnings about LA Salad baby carrots sold at Costco because they may have been contaminated with shigella. The Agency said at the time that the carrots had already made four people sick, which triggered a subsequent recall in the United States.

The company now says that CFIA’s allegations weren’t supported by scientific fact and accuses them of shoddy testing. In documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the company is claiming damages due to a continued loss of business.

Calgary, what is the problem?

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It only took some bright journalist three days from the initial announcement to figure out that the four sick people with Shigella from baby carrots were in Calgary.

Hypothetical risks are a big story in Canada. People actually barfing isn’t.

The Calgary Health Region, continuing its Paleolithic-era communications style of blaming consumers, was cited by CBC News as "warning people to wash their hands thoroughly to prevent spread of the bacteria."

So, these four sick people all opened bags of baby carrots from Costco and managed to sicken themselves with the same bacterium cause they didn’t wash their hands? It’s a ready-to-eat-food. Who comes up with this stuff?

Who, what, where, when, why?

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Journalism basics, something I’ll be teaching at Kansas State beginning next week and something the ever-evasive Canadian Food Inspection Agency dances around.

This time it’s a warning that Los Angeles Salad Company Baby Carrots may be contaminated with Shigella.

The release says there have been four reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

No other details, except that the affected product, Los Angeles Salad Company Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots, is labelled as product of Mexico and imported by Los Angeles Salad Company. It is sold in 672 g/1.5 lb plastic bags bearing ITM 50325, UPC 8 31129 00137 7 and Sell By dates up to and including 8 /13 /07.

This product was sold in Costco stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland.

These bureaucrats still aren’t that into you.

In 2005, contaminated carrots served over three days on flights out of Honolulu were the likely cause of 45 cases of shigella poisoning across 22 states, Japan, Australia and American Samoa.