15 US states grapple with Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes

New Delhi: US health officials have reported that dozens of individuals across 15 states have fallen ill after contracting salmonella from cantaloupes included in a recent recall, reported New York Post.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that at least 43 people in 15 states have been infected in the salmonella outbreak, with 17 of them requiring hospitalisation.

In the past week, a number of brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes, as well as pre-cut fruit, have been recalled due to concerns of potential contamination.

The recall encompasses various products, such as Malichita brand whole cantaloupes sold from October 16 to October 23, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe available between October 30 and November 10, and ALDI whole cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit items with best-by dates falling between October 27 and October 31.

Individuals in possession of the recalled fruits are strongly advised to dispose of them immediately, while investigators are actively working to identify any other potentially contaminated cantaloupe products.

In Canada, authorities are investigating an outbreak involving the same strain of salmonella found in Malichita brand cantaloupes.

The actual count of individuals affected in the outbreak is likely higher than the currently reported numbers, and states without documented infections could also be affected. Symptoms may take several days to manifest, and it usually takes three to four weeks to establish a connection between a case and the outbreak.

Salmonella symptoms encompass diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with the illnesses typically lasting between four to seven days. In specific populations, such as young children, frail or elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems, salmonella can lead to severe, and occasionally fatal, infections.