Bureau & Putnam County Health Department

News

Listeria Outbreak Is Deadliest in More Than a Decade

Death Toll From Listeria Outbreak Hits 28

October 25th, 2011

(HealthDay News) -- The death toll in the listeria outbreak traced to cantaloupes produced at a Colorado farm has reached 28, with another 133 people sickened in 26 states, U.S. officials said late Tuesday.

Officials said last week that the outbreak appeared to have been caused by unsanitary conditions at the farm.

Inspections on Sept. 22 and 23 by federal and state authorities at the Jensen Farms packing facility in Granada found "unsanitary conditions where the [fruit] may have become adulterated," Sherri McGarry, senior advisor at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's CORE Network, said during a news conference last week.

Inspectors said the layout of the farm's packing facility allowed water to pool on the floor, making it hard to clean the floor and the equipment used to pack the melons -- and that could have served as a conduit for the germ to latch onto the fruit.

In addition, Jensen Farms did not cool its cantaloupes before placing them in cold storage, which may have caused condensation promoting the growth of listeria, McGarry said.

"We have no reason to believe, at this time, that these practices are indicative of practices throughout the industry," she said.

The plant, which was registered with the FDA in 2010, had never been inspected and was not due to be inspected for five to seven years, she added.

"The tragic deaths and illness from this outbreak have again demonstrated the need to continually address and improve food-safety practices," U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said at the news conference.

The agency said that even though the cantaloupes in question were recalled in mid-September, more cases might still emerge since Listeria monocytogenes infection has a long lag time between diagnosis and laboratory confirmation "and also because up to two months can elapse between eating contaminated food and developing listerosis."

The listeriosis-linked deaths have occurred in Colorado (7), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (2), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (5), New York (2), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2) and Wyoming (1). The people who have died ranged in age from 48 to 96, the CDC said.

One pregnant woman who contracted the illness had a miscarriage, the CDC said.

Back on Sept. 14, the agency announced that Jensen Farms had voluntarily recalled its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes and the produce was "now off store shelves." Consumers -- especially older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women -- should discard this brand of cantaloupe if it is in their refrigerator, the agency said. Other brands of cantaloupe are safe to consume, however.

At a recent news conference, CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden called the cantaloupe-linked outbreak "the deadliest outbreak of a foodborne disease that we've identified in more than a decade."

Unlike other bacteria, listeria can flourish in colder temperatures. So, "if you've got a contaminated cantaloupe in your refrigerator, the listeria will continue to grow," Frieden said. "That's one of the reasons why we may see continued cases from cantaloupe already in people's refrigerators in the days and weeks ahead."

Although listeria tends to infect fewer people, it is typically deadlier than other foodborne germs and disproportionately affects the elderly, newborns, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system. People can develop meningitis from the organism, but many people only experience milder diarrhea.

According to the CDC, some 1,600 cases are reported annually in the United States, resulting in 260 deaths.

The bacterium tends to grow in soil and water. But animals can also carry the germ and pass it on to humans through meats, dairy products and other foods of animal origins. Most listeria outbreaks are from animal products, not produce, the CDC said.

SOURCES: Oct. 19, 2011, news conference with Margaret Hamburg, M.D., commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Sherri McGarry, senior advisor, CORE Network, Office of Foods, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Oct. 18, 2011, news release, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sept. 28, 2011, news conference with Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Margaret Hamburg, M.D., commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Birds Needed for West Nile Virus Testing

July 28, 2011

The Bureau & Putnam County Health Department West Nile Virus Surveillance Program has now been underway for almost 2 months. The program consists of testing birds and mosquitoes for West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes have been tested from traps placed in the vicinity of public access / gathering areas in both Bureau and Putnam Counties. So far, West Nile Virus has not been found in the mosquitoes or bird tested. However, we urge the public to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites, as West Nile Virus has been found in mosquitoes in neighboring counties this year and in areas across Illinois.

The Health Department is still accepting birds for testing. If you would like to submit a bird for testing please call the health department at 815-872-5091, extension 216 to see if it is eligible, before you touch or handle the bird. In order to qualify for testing, birds must meet these guidelines:

Birds must be dead less than 24 hours (Fresh) and the carcass must not have obvious signs of trauma (struck by a vehicle, window, or animal attack), or decay. Birds dying from WNV are usually found singly, scattered over a wide area. In contrast, birds that die from other causes (storm mortality, food poisoning, toxicants) often die in groups or clusters.
Only adults should handle dead birds. Pick the bird up with gloves, tongs or a shovel. If you do not have gloves, insert your hand into a plastic bag like it is a glove, grasp the bird carefully and invert the bag over the bird. Each bird should be double-bagged in clear plastic bags.
If the bird will not be submitted for testing, place the bagged bird in the trash or bury it away from water sources. After disposal of the bird, wash your hands with soap and water.

Although test results to date have been negative, the recent hot, dry conditions are ideal for a rapid increase in mosquito numbers and possible West Nile Virus in mosquitoes. Please take these common sense precautions to minimize mosquito bites.

Avoid being outdoors at night and early morning, when mosquitoes are active.
If you must go outdoors during these times wear light colored clothing and apply insect repellent.
Ensure that doors and windows have tight, properly fitting screens.
Eliminate all sources of standing water that support mosquito breeding (i.e. bird baths, wading pools, and flowerpots, tires, cans, buckets, clogged gutters, abandoned swimming pools, etc…) on your property. This is especially important because the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus breed in shallow containers of stagnant water.

For additional information regarding West Nile Virus call the health department at (815) 872-5091, the Illinois Department of Public Health West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 or go to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus website.

IEMA Encourages Pet, Livestock Owners to Include Animals in Disaster Preparedness Plans

Plans, preparedness kits can keep pets, livestock safe during disasters

July 1, 2011

SPRINGFIELD – Developing a family disaster plan and assembling an emergency supply kit are two important steps for keeping your family safe when disasters occur. And if your family includes a pet or you own livestock, your emergency planning should include procedures and supplies to ensure their well-being during disasters.

Throughout July, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will be working to increase awareness of pet and livestock preparedness as part of its 12 Month Preparedness Campaign. "More than half of all households include at least one pet," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "When disaster strikes, you want to keep them safe. That’s why it's important to take into consideration the needs of every family member, including your pets, when developing your emergency plan and kit."

Monken said pet owners should assemble items that will help their pets stay safe and healthy during disasters. Suggested items for the pet disaster preparedness kit include:

At least a three-day supply of food and water
Extra supplies of pet medicines
Copies of pet registration, vaccination and other important documents
Photo of your pet in case you are separated during an emergency.
Pet first-aid kit, including cotton bandage rolls, tape, antibiotic ointment, flea and tick prevention and isopropyl alcohol.
Collar with ID tag, harness and leash.
Crate or other pet carrier in case of evacuation.
Pet litter and box, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach for pet’s sanitation needs.
Toys, treats or other familiar items to help lessen your pet’s stress during the emergency.

It’s also important for horse and livestock owners to plan for disasters that could impact their animals. Develop a written plan of action for the types of disasters that could happen in your area (tornadoes, floods, chemical spills, etc.) and include animal confinement locations for each type of disaster, food and water sources that do not rely on electricity, locations to take animals if you can evacuate them and evacuation routes to those locations. Take photographs and document identifying information about each animal, such as brands, ear tags, etc.

If you must evacuate without your livestock during an emergency, leave them in an appropriate preselected area and leave enough hay, food and water for 72 hours. Do not rely on automatic watering systems as power may be lost.