Outbreaks and Alerts: October 5, 2010

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

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United States

• Lane County, OR. October 4th: A health advisory prompted by high algae levels found in Dorena Reservoir has been lifted.
• Roseville, CA. October 4th: Seven people were hospitalized after food served at a wedding reception sickened at least 30 guests.
• Lane County and Coos County, OR. October 5th: Health advisories prompted by high algae levels found in Blue Water Reservoir and Sru Lake have been lifted.

Europe

• UK. October 4th: Nearly 300 vacationers who were infected with Shigella after staying at the Royal Park Hotel in Bulgaria have begun legal action. The outbreak of gastroenteritis took place between June and October 2008.
• Dublin, Ireland. October 5th: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reports that four Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during September 2010.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. September 28th: The Saudi FDA has become a member of the European Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed (RASFF) and of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).
• Hong Kong. October 5th: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning involving 11 people. The individuals became ill after consuming food in a restaurant in Tsuen Wan.
• Papua New Guinea. October 5th: Four cases of cholera have been confirmed in the Yangorus district of East Sepik.
• Bangalore, India. October 5th: A third Royal Bengal tiger has died in a south Indian zoo after becoming infected with Salmonella. It is thought that the tigers were infected after consuming contaminated chicken or beef.

Australia and New Zealand

• Wellington, New Zealand. October 5th: The New Zealand Food Safety Authority reminds the public that whitebait, fish and shellfish taken from sewage-contaminated rivers in the Canterbury area can cause serious illness. Refusal of whitebaiters to comply with warnings risks the prospect of significant fines or even prison sentences.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Jamaica. October 1st: The Ministry of Health advises the public to treat water intended for consumption by bleach or boiling, as the water may become contaminated after heavy rainfall and flooding.