Outbreaks and Alerts: July 5, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

United States

• Glencoe, IL. July 1: Thirty-seven people are confirmed to have been infected with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis after eating at the Skokie Country Club in June. Eight people were treated in hospital; two are still hospitalized. The combined total of confirmed and suspected cases exceeds 80.
• Olympia, WA. July 3: Customers of the Vader water system in Lewis County are being asked to boil their drinking water until further notice.

Canada

• Calgary, AB. July 4: A Norovirus outbreak at the Alberta Children's Hospital has left four children sick and sent at least 20 staff members home.The virus hasn't spread beyond two medical and surgical units in the hospital. Children suspected of being infected with Norovirus are being isolated from other children in the units.
• Ottawa, ON. July 5: Health Canada reminds Canadians of the importance of safe handling of fresh produce to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Europe

• Astrakhan, Russia. July 5: A dysentery outbreak at a children's health resort sends 14 children and one counselor to hospital.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Kenya. June 24: Eight suspected cases of aflatoxin poisoning have been reported at Mutomo mission hospital in Eastern Province. Eighteen samples of maize taken from the National Cereals and Produce Board Kitui depot have been found to be contaminated with aflatoxin.
• Hong Kong. July 3: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is investigating two suspected ciguatoxin poisoning cases affecting four people who had consumed coral reef fish.
• Cambodia. July 5: At least 60 Cambodian people were reported dead by cholera and diarrhea that occurred in 20 out of 24 provinces and cities across the country. The Ministry of Health said in a report that 60 people died of cholera and diarrhea among the 449 cases found this year.
• Hanoi, Vietnam. July 5: The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases is treating 36 people infected with acute diarrhea, with 18 of them having tested positive for cholera. Most of the patients are from inner Hanoi.

Australia and New Zealand

• Australia. June 30: Major retailers begin the phase out of baby bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA).
• New South Wales, Australia. July 4: A targeted NSW Food Authority investigation into suspected illegal meat manufacturers in Sydney found 29 of the 80 products inspected were produced by illegal backyard operators.