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Health

Food poisoning outbreaks hit hard nationwide

Oyster
Galveston Bay oysters were blamed for 300 cases of flu-like illness  
July 10, 1998
Web posted at: 9:43 p.m. EDT (0143 GMT)

ATLANTA (CNN) -- E. coli, salmonella, various bacterial microorganisms -- it may be that summer is shaping up to include a disturbing number of food poisoning outbreaks across the country.

Is the high number of cases due to better monitoring of outbreaks or because there are more dangerous forms of persistent bacteria?

"I think overall we're seeing better surveillance and better detection of outbreaks," said Mike Doyle, a food scientist at the University of Georgia. "We don't know for sure if it's because there are more pathogens in our food supply. That's an unanswered question."

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CDC: Source of Guatemalan berry contamination still unknown

So far in 1998, there have been six recalls of ground beef due to fear of E. coli -- the last in June when Costco recalled frozen ground beef patties from stores in 24 states. Last year, there were six recalls the entire year.

Malt-O-Meal
Malt-O-Meal recalled millions of pounds of cereal in May because of salmonella contamination  

"We don't know if hamburger is more contaminated than it has been before, but it's clear that hamburger and other food items cause 20,000 cases of E. coli 0157:H7 each year," said Fred Angulo with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A rundown of major outbreaks

  • In late May, Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Inc. recalled millions of pounds of cereal after almost 200 people became sick in several states from a rare form of salmonella. It's still unknown how the cereal became contaminated.

  • In June, close to 100 people in Illinois fell ill from a rare form of E. coli linked to contaminated potato salad.

    Kids
    More than two dozen children contracted E. coli from a contaminated pool in an Atlanta water park  

  • Since early June, there have been over 300 cases of flu-like illness in people in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee who at raw oysters from Gaveston Bay in Texas. Health officials said drought and heat caused bacteria to reproduce quickly in oyster populations. Some health experts said a stronger strain of bacteria may have developed.

  • It's not just food that's making people sick. More than two dozen children became infected with E. coli after playing at an Atlanta water park. Two of the children remain hospitalized. State health officials said one child infected with E. coli defecated in the pool, spreading the bacteria. The water park has since installed a new filtration system.

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