An outbreak of the salmonella saintpaul disease, which has impacted consumers across 18 different US states, has been preliminarily traced back to imported cucumbers from Mexican suppliers Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Mircle Greenhouse, according to the latest update from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In its preliminary investigation, the CDC has said that the consumption of cucumbers from the Culiacán-based groups was the 'likely source' of infection, with the companies placed on import alert – meaning the suppliers' cucumbers will be denied admission into the US 'unless they show that they are not contaminated with salmonella'.
As of 25 April, a total of 73 people infected with the saintpaul strain of the disease have been reported across 18 states, with 27 per cent hospitalised and no deaths reported.
Currently, there is no evidence that the infected cucumbers, which are distributed by Tricar Sales of Rio Rico in Arizona, are still on the market, CDC reported.
Illness dates range from 12 January through until 6 April, CDC noted, with the states impacted including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
'CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods eaten with before becoming ill,' the group added.
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