Salmonella Outbreak Widens, 200 Sickened in 21 States

ATLANTAThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a second strain of Salmonella has been identified in a multistate outbreak most likely caused by contaminated frozen raw yellowfin tuna product commonly used in sushi. The latest CDC report confirmed 200 people in 21 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened by Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Nchanga.

Illness onset dates range from Jan. 28 to March 23, 2012. CDC noted the two associated PFGE patterns have been grouped together as the "outbreak strains." As of April 26, 28 people have been hospitalized with the rare strains of Salmonella; no deaths have been reported. Many of the people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as spicy tuna."

According to the CDC, the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly have sickened 190 persons in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin. Ten persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga have been reported in five states, including Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Earlier this month, Moon Marine USA Corp. (also known as MMI) of Cupertino, Calif., issued a recall of frozen raw yellowfin tuna product labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA sold through distributors to restaurants and grocery stores that make sushi, sushi, sashimi, ceviche or similar dishes.

Investigation is ongoing into individual food items and their sources. CDC, FDA, and state and local public health partners are continuing surveillance to identify and interview other ill persons about the foods they ate.