An outbreak tied to cucumbers tainted with Salmonella Africana includes 162 illnesses in 25 states. An ongoing Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that has sickened 158 people in 23 states may also be linked to these cucumbers.
The Florida-grown cucumbers, distributed by Fresh Start Produce based in Delray, FL, were recalled on May 31, 2024, after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample from a cucumber purchased at a grocery store. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), health officials are testing that culture to see if it is a genetic match to the outbreak strain Salmonella Africana, a rare strain.
WGS was used to identify all of the illnesses included in this outbreak. People sickened by the same bacterial strain were likely exposed to the same source of contamination. When health officials interviewed the people sickened in this outbreak, most said they had eaten cucumbers in the days before they became ill. The significant statistical difference indicates that cucumbers are the source of the outbreak.
Salmonella Africana is a rare strain and has never before been linked to a U.S. outbreak. “This strain is antibiotic-resistant and causes severe illness as indicated by a hospitalization rate that is more than double the average,” said noted Salmonella Lawyer Eric Hageman of the national law firm Pritzker Hageman. Of 127 patients contacted by health officials, 54 said they had been hospitalized.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that can be bloody. Usually, they develop within six to 72 hours of exposure. The patients in this outbreak reported the onset of symptoms on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to May 16, 2024.
Experienced Salmonella Lawyers
If you developed a Salmonella infection from contaminated cucumbers and would like a free consultation with a Salmonella lawyer, contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. Our attorneys have represented clients in every major U.S. Salmonella outbreak. Call us at 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.