Salmonellosis
- Outbreak Investigation, February 2007
Released February 21, 2007
(Updates will be provided on a weekly basis)
NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes. The content of this document has not been revised since its original release and therefore may no longer be up to date.
Public health officials in multiple states, with
the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and the U.S Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), are investigating a large multistate outbreak
of Salmonella serotype Tennessee infections. An epidemiologic
study comparing foods that ill and well persons said
they ate showed that consumption of Peter Pan peanut
butter and Great Value peanut butter were both statistically
associated with illness and therefore the likely
source of the outbreak.
FDA has advised consumers not to eat any
Peter Pan peanut butter purchased since May
2006 and not to eat Great Value peanut butter
with a product code beginning with 2111 purchased
since May 2006. Peter Pan peanut butter is
made in a single facility in Georgia. Great
Value peanut butter with a product code beginning
with 2111 is made in the same facility as
Peter Pan peanut butter. Great Value peanut
butter made by other manufacturers is not
affected.
As of February 21st at 12PM EST, 329 persons
infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Tennessee
have been reported to CDC from 41 states.
Among 249 patients for whom clinical information
is available, 51 (21%) were hospitalized.
No deaths have been attributed to this infection.
Onset dates, which are known for 224 patients,
ranged from August 1, 2006 to February 2,
2007, and 60% of these illnesses began after
December 1, 2006.
FDA officials and the peanut butter manufacturer
are working collaboratively to learn more
about production of peanut butter to determine
how it may have become contaminated.
Persons who think they may have become
ill from eating peanut butter are advised
to consult their health care provider. Persons
who have Peter Pan peanut butter purchased
since May 2006 or Great Value peanut butter
with a product code beginning with 2111 purchased
since May 2006 should discard the jar. Local
health departments no longer need to collect
jars for testing.
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop
diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12
to 72 hours after infection. The illness
usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons
recover without treatment. However, in some
persons the diarrhea may be so severe that
the patient needs to be hospitalized. The
elderly, infants, and those with impaired
immune systems are more likely to have a
severe illness.
The states that have reported cases are
Alaska (1 case), Alabama (10), Arkansas (3),
Arizona (5), California (3), Colorado (10),
Connecticut (2), Florida (4), Georgia (18),
Iowa (6), Illinois (7), Indiana (14), Kansas
(8), Kentucky (9), Massachusetts (5), Maryland
(2), Maine (1), Michigan (7), Minnesota (5),
Missouri (16), Mississippi (5), Montana (2),
Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (6),
New Mexico (1), North Carolina (16), New
York (34), Ohio (7), Oklahoma (10), Oregon
(2), Pennsylvania (25), South Carolina (6),
South Dakota (5), Tennessee (18), Texas (14),
Virginia (23), Vermont (4), Washington (4),
Wisconsin (6), and West Virginia (2).
Advice to Consumers
Additional Resourcess
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