News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
August 17, 2012

State health officials investigating outbreak of salmonella in cantaloupe

Indiana State Dept. of Health News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — State and federal health officials are advising all Hoosiers to discard cantaloupes purchased from July 7 to present, following an outbreak of salmonellosis which has sickened 14 Hoosiers and about 150 people nationwide.

The Indiana State Department of Health is investigating farms in Southwest Indiana, as well as distributors and retailers, as potential sources of the outbreak. One farm has voluntarily agreed to do a market withdrawal and is stopping the shipment of all cantaloupes as precaution. Kentucky, which has 50 confirmed cases, is also investigating retailers and other points along the distribution chain.

"Because the investigation is ongoing and we do not have a definitive source for this outbreak, we are advising all Hoosiers to throw away any cantaloupes they’ve recently purchased as a precaution," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin. "We are working with other impacted states, as well as our federal partners to locate the source as quickly as possible. We will, of course, be sharing that information as it is learned.”

Most persons infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, some individuals may require hospitalization from severe diarrhea. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites. It can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from salmonella infection.

"Anyone experiencing symptoms and who feels they may have eaten a contaminated cantaloupe should contact their health care provider," Dr. Larkin said. "We are seeing cases in Indiana and our neighbor to the south, Kentucky, has seen many more cases and has experienced two deaths related to this outbreak. Health care providers are encouraged to be mindful of patients who may have symptoms consistent with salmonellosis and report all cases to the local health department.”

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the outbreak in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indiana State Department of Health, and affected other states, including tracing the source of the affected melons and shipments of melons that may have been contaminated.

Salmonella bacteria can be found in the intestines of several animals. Infection often results from eating raw eggs or raw poultry or cross-contamination with other food items (such as using the same cutting board for raw meats and produce). Salmonella can also be found on the skin of reptiles and other animals. Hand washing should always be encouraged after playing with pets and handling animals, especially in young children. Salmonella can occasionally be found on contaminated produce items, so all produce should be thoroughly washed and scrubbed before eating.

For more information about salmonella, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/salmonella or visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s website at www.StateHealth.in.gov.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Texas Gov. Flies Over Tornado Damage Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction China, Others Want What's Under the Arctic Ice One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh Raw: Suicide Bomber Kills 2 Americans, 13 Others Raw: 6 Die in Russian Ship Fire Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
NDN Video
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News