Tomatoes and Ground Beef: Another Update

CDC has published further updates to the case totals for both the Salmonella Saintpaul and the E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that are currently under investigation.

Salmonella Outbreak

As of 9pm yesterday evening, federal and state health agencies have confirmed a total of 756 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul infection linked to contaminated tomatoes. Ninety-five people have been hospitalized.

Texas is the hardest-hit state, with 330 cases; New Mexico is next, with 80. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have each reported at least one lab-confirmed infection with the outbreak strain.

E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

The number of victims of the contaminated ground beef – recalled yesterday evening by Kroger – has risen to 33. Sixteen of the lab-confirmed cases were reported by Michigan; 17 are from Ohio. Seventeen of the patients have been hospitalized, one with kidney failure – a common manifestation of hemolytic uremic syndrome.