Outbreaks and Alerts: July 25, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

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United States

• Lansing, MI. July 22: The Michigan Department of Community Health has issued the 2010 Michigan Fish Advisory with updated information.
• Lincoln, NE. July 23: Nebraska has discontinued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Red Willow Reservoir in Gosper County, after the lake had two consecutive weeks of low readings for toxic blue-green algae. This week, there are no health alerts in effect at any of the 46 public lakes that are tested weekly by the state.
• Indianapolis, IN. July 23: The Indiana State Department of Health cautions residents and visitors of possible high levels of blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, at many of Indiana's reservoirs and lakes. Currently, there are nine reservoirs throughout the state being monitored for blue-green algae. At this time, the majority of the reservoirs that are being tested do have algae levels above that which would be considered high enough for the probability of causing health effects. Exposure to a blue-green algae during recreational activities such as swimming, wading, and water-skiing can lead to rashes, skin, eye irritation, and other uncomfortable effects such as nausea, stomach aches, and tingling in fingers and toes.
• San Diego, CA. July 23: The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency advises the public to be aware of the potential health dangers and risks associated with eating raw oysters. Occasionally, oysters have been found to contain Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a common type of bacteria in salt water, typically found in higher concentrations during summer. When an oyster containing these bacteria is eaten, gastrointestinal symptoms such as watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills may occur.
• Iowa. July 23: Barfblog reports that recent illnesses connected to an Iowa farmers' market have been linked to Mexican foods sold by La Reyna Supermarket & Taqueria of Iowa City.

Canada

• Yarmouth, NS. July 22: The Department of Health Promotion and Protection has reopened Ellenwood Lake Beach in Yarmouth County.
• Toronto, ON. July 23: Ontarians are reminded to avoid consuming headcheese products that have been the subject of recent recalls by Freybe Gourmet Foods, Ltd. and G. Brandt Meat Packers (the manufacturer of Freybe headcheese). Freybe brand headcheese has been linked to 17 confirmed cases of Salmonella Chester gastroenteritis in British Columbia and one confirmed case in Ontario. None of the cases have been tied to consumption of headcheese sold under the Brandt brand name.

Europe

• Moscow, Russia. July 21: Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor will ban shipments of meat from a number of companies in Germany, France, Brazil, and Poland effective July 30 due to the detection of prohibited and harmful substances. Among the reported problems were Salmonella contamination in shipments of pork jowl from a German company and Listeria in ground turkey from France.
• Hellingly, UK. July 23: The Bunny Run Nursery has reopened following an intensive cleaning that was precipitated by an outbreak of five confirmed cases and three presumptive cases of E. coli infections among children who attended the nursery. The Health Protection Agency is carrying out an investigation into the outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Rajasthan, India. July 23: Close to 500 people – including 234 children – from 40 villages in Rajasthan have taken ill in the last five days. even as the Health Department is yet to ascertain the cause. Officials suspect a waterborne disease or possible chemical contamination and have sent close to 75 samples for testing.
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. July 23: The Port Moresby General Hospital’s cholera treatment centre (CTC) continues to receive a high number of cases from the Wanigela settlement at Koki – 38 out of the total 69 patients treated were from Wanigela. The National Capital District cholera task force is concerned over the outbreak in the settlement but the people’s refusal to allow them into the settlement has prevented them from providing assistance and carrying out assessments.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Piura, Peru. July 24: Two persons from Sullana, have died of Acute Diarrhea Disease; there have been some 32,000 reported cases in the region this year.