CDC has updated the ongoing Salmonella Heidelberg Outbreak linked to Cargill turkey burger:
- A total of 78 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 26 states between March 1 and August 3, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: AL (1), AZ (2), CA (6), GA (2), IA (1), IL (7), IN (1), KY (2), LA (1), MA (1), MI (10), MN (1), MO (2), MS (1), NC (1), NE (2), NV (1), NY (2), OH (10), OK (1), OR (1), PA (5), SD (3), TN (2), TX (9), and WI (3). Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after March 9, 2011. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 88 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. Fifty-two percent are male. Among the 60 ill persons with available information, 22 (37%) have been hospitalized. One death has been reported.
- Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that eating ground turkey is the likely source of this outbreak.
- On August 3, 2011 Cargill recalled 36 million pounds of fresh and frozen ground turkey due to possible Salmonella contamination.
- Contaminated ground turkey is being recalled from grocery stores but may still be in consumers’ homes.
- Consumers should check their homes for recalled ground turkey products and not eat them; restaurant and food service operators should not serve them.
- The outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics; this antibiotic resistance may increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.