New Listeria outbreak discovered; investigations into others ongoing

The FDA is investigating a new outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes. The agency has not yet found the source of the pathogen.

As of Oct. 23, health officials had confirmed three patients who had become ill from the same strain of Listeria. The FDA has not released the patients’ age range or location.

The agency has initiated traceback efforts but has not said what food is being traced. The FDA has also initiated on-site inspections but has not reported what location is being inspected.

In other outbreak news, the FDA continues to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency has traced the infections to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

There are 59 sick people spread across ten states. One person has died. The investigators believe there is a good chance that the silvered onions on the hamburgers are responsible for the illnesses. The company has stopped serving Quarter Pounders and slivered onions in several states.

An outbreak of Salmonella infections is also under investigation. The number of confirmed patients has increased to 25, up from 23 a week ago. The FDA has begun product traceback but has not reported what food it is tracing. The source of the pathogen remains unknown.

The FDA has declared two outbreaks of the Cyclospora parasite over. The outbreaks sickened 61 patients and 48, respectively. The FDA conducted traceback, onsite inspections, and testing but was unable to determine the source of the parasite.

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