A salmonella outbreak that has killed two people continues to spread across the U.S., according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of infections has increased to 418 people across 31 states, 91 of whom have been hospitalized. More than half of the patients are children. Illness onset dates range from July 3 to Sept. 3, though the CDC notes it takes an average of two to four weeks to document an illness so additional reports may come in.
Cucumbers grown in Mexico and distributed by the company Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce have been implicated in the outbreak.
The products, sold from Aug. 1 to Sept. 3 under the brand “Limited Edition,” were voluntarily recalled Sept. 4 by the San Diego-based company. But because the cucumbers are often sold in a bulk display without any other packaging, it may be difficult to tell which cucumbers may carry the bacteria. The CDC describes them as dark green “slicer” or “American” cucumbers, from seven to 10 inches long.
The company also supplied cucumbers to the “Fat Boy” label starting Aug. 1, and those cucumbers were recalled Sept. 11.
Salmonella is a family of bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping as early as 12 hours after infection. The illness lasts from four to seven days, and most don’t need treatment. But among vulnerable people, like the elderly, infants and those with suppressed immune systems, the infection can be more severe. Salmonella causes an estimated 1.2 million illnesses and 450 deaths every year in the U.S., according to the CDC.
The cucumbers were distributed in the following 31 states, although health officials say others may have received them as well: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
If you’re not sure where your cucumbers are from, CDC officials suggest you call the store where you bought them and ask for the name of the supplier. And if there’s any doubt, they advise, simply throw them away.
