Eight Salmonella strains linked to outbreaks from papaya

Each outbreak is linked to papayas imported from a different farm in Mexico and four brands have been recalled.

An outbreak involving four strains of Salmonella has sickened 210 people. Sixty-seven people have been hospitalized and one person from New York City has died.

Salmonella Thompson (135), Salmonella Kiambu (59), Salmonella Agona (10) or Salmonella Gaminara (six) illnesses have been reported from 24 states.

The same strains of these types of Salmonella were found in samples from papayas and from ill people.

Second outbreak​

Fourteen people infected with Salmonella Anatum are from three states.

Illness dates range from December 20, 2016, to April 8, 2017. Five people were hospitalized and one death was reported from California.

“While the epidemiologic information indicated that papayas were the likely source of this outbreak at the time, investigators could not determine the specific source of contaminated papayas and the outbreak investigation ended after illnesses stopped,”​ said CDC.

In early September, FDA identified the outbreak strain of S. Anatum from a sample taken from papaya grower Productores y Exportadores de Carica Papaya de Tecomán y Costa Alegre in Tijuana, Mexico at the US-Mexico border.

Maradol papayas imported by Bravo Produce Inc. of San Ysidro, California are the likely source.

Bravo Produce recalled Maradol papayas packed by Frutas Selectas de Tijuana, S. de RL de CV that were distributed to California from August 10 to 29.

It was a supplier of Maradol papayas to the grocery chain where four of seven ill people bought the fruit.

Bravo Produce is taking samples from each cargo to a private lab authorized to determine Salmonella.

CDC identified six more people with the same DNA fingerprint of S. Anatum who got sick recently.

The agency is investigating to determine if these illnesses are also linked to Maradol papayas imported by Bravo Produce.

Third outbreak​

In other outbreak, four people infected with Salmonella Newport (three) or Salmonella Infantis (one) are from four states.

The same strain of Salmonella has been found in samples from papayas and from ill people.

Illness dates range from July 19 to August 7 and two people have been hospitalized.

FDA identified S.​ Newport and S.​ Infantis on papayas from Caraveo Produce in Tecomán, Mexico that were grown by Rancho El Ganadero.

Salmonella illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people develop symptoms 12-72 hours after infection.

Fourth outbreak​

Seven people infected with Salmonella Urbana are from three states.

Illness dates range from July 23 to August 14 and four people have been hospitalized.

Maradol papayas from the El Zapotanito farm in La Huerta, Mexico are the likely source after FDA testing identified S. Urbana on papayas from the farm.

The shipment of contaminated papayas was destroyed and not distributed for sale in the US.

Papayas from the farm were distributed in the country earlier this year but no shipments are on the market because they are past their shelf life.