Publisher Platform: What’s new about the Salmonella cucumber outbreak?

The FDA and CDC have not updated the size and scope of this outbreak since July 2.

As of July 2, a total of 449 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia. Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup strain.

Illnesses began on dates ranging from March 11, 2024 to June 4, 2024. Of the 360 ​​people for whom information was available, 125 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

Public health researchers used the PulseNet system to identify diseases that may have been part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet maintains a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illness. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from the samples of sick people are genetically closely related. This means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same type of food.

The FDA traceback investigation found Bedner Growers, Inc. identified in Florida as a supplier of cucumbers in this outbreak. This one grower does not account for all the diseases in this outbreak. The FDA collected samples from the Florida grower and identified Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water. WGS has determined that the Salmonella found in the water is the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that sickened people in this outbreak. Additional soil and water samples collected from Bedner Growers, Inc. were positive for other Salmonella species. CDC and FDA are investigating whether these strains have caused illness in humans.