CDC Food Safety Update: September - October

CDC & Food Safety New reports, publications, and web material September - October 2013

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder "Along with most of the federal government, the furlough curtailed the efforts of those who work to keep America healthy. For 16 days, there was a disturbing quiet in CDC’s offices, labs, and hallways. Our furloughed staff were forced to cancell meetings, trainings, and walk away from critical work battling food, water, and environmental diseases. I was impressed by the dedication and commitment of the staff that stayed through the furlough, often doing the jobs of many others. And, I was impressed by the attitude of people after the furlough. You returned enthusiastically, picked up your work quickly, and moved forward. It is great to see and wonderful to feel that buzz of energy in our Division again. I was not the only one who missed you. The media published a steady stream of news stories ranging from worry over gaps in surveillance for influenza and foodborne outbreaks to an article highlighting non-furloughed  laboratory staff who quietly worked behind the scenes  (photo on left: Dr. Collette Fitzgerald Leaumont, team lead, Enteric Reference Laboratory). There is certainly nothing “non-essential” about our work. Thank you and carry on." ~ Chris Christopher R. Braden, M.D., CAPT USPHS Outbreaks! CDC tracked five multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness during September - October: Salmonella Heidelberg. In a multistate outbreak linked to Foster Farms brand chicken, seven outbreak strains of the bacteria Salmonella Heidelberg have sickened over 300 people—40% of whom were hospitalized. Vibrio parahaemolyticus. CDC and state and federal partners in 13 states are monitoring an increase in vibriosis since May 2013. Vibrio bacteria live in saltwater. People can get vibriosis after eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Several species of Vibrio, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, can cause illness. Cyclospora. An Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis in the United States appears to be over.* Hepatitis A. The multistate outbreak of hepatitis A linked to pomegranate seeds from Turkey** appears to be over. Listeria. An outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Crave Brothers cheeses, appears to be over. * This outbreak falls under the jurisdiction of CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. ** This outbreak falls under the jurisdiction of CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis. Select CDC Food Safety Publications Key CDC publications during September - October include: Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report and Foodborne Germs Each year, millions of people in the United States become sick from foodborne and other enteric (gastrointestinal) infections. While many of these infections are mild and do not require treatment, antibiotics can be lifesaving in severe infections. Antibiotic resistance compromises our ability to treat these infections and is a serious threat to public health. CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013 report [PDF - 76 pages] connects antibiotic resistance to foodborne and other enteric germs in animals, food, and humans. Food Safety Over half of all foodborne disease outbreaks reported to the CDC are associated with eating in restaurants or delicatessens. Using data on restaurant-associated foodborne disease outbreaks reported by sites participating in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), CDC analysts characterized contributing factors and the levels of evidence used to determine them. Gould LH, Rosenblum I, Nicholas D, Phan Q, and Jones TF. Contributing Factors in Restaurant-Associated Foodborne Disease Outbreaks, FoodNet Sites, 2006-2007. Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 76, No. 11, 2013, Pages 1824–1828, doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-037. On the Web Voluntary Guidelines for Food Establishments during a Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation CIFOR--the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response-is a partnership of food industry and public health professionals working to reduce the burden of foodborne illness in the United States. CIFOR's Guidelines for Foodborne Outbreak and Response (2009-2012) are recommendations for owners, operators, and managers of retail food establishments during a foodborne illness outbreak investigation. The document provides step-by-step approaches to outbreak response. Click here for previous newsletters.