First Local Case Of Salmonella Linked To Tomatoes

COLORADO SPRINGS – The El Paso CountyHealth Department has confirmed its first local case of salmonellosis linked to salmonella-tainted tomatoes. The victim, who is reportedly a woman, has fully recovered from her illness. This El Paso County case brings the total number of affected individuals in Colorado to three. The otherresidents who became sick wereresidents of Weld and Otero counties.

Between all the cases nationwide since mid-April, there have been 383 reported people with illness caused by salmonella Saintpaul, an uncommon form of salmonella. At least 48 hospitalizations have been reported related to the outbreak.

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) initial warning regarding raw tomatoes that was issued in early June, the Health Department has been working to inform and protect the public from this outbreak. Last week, the Health Department was advised to consult with restaurants about the source of their tomatoes when performing routine food safety inspections. In addition, the Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program staff has investigated numerous cases of possible salmonella illness.

Thenational warning issued by the FDA is still in effect, urging consumers to avoid certain varieties of tomatoes, including raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes, unless those tomatoes are known to have been grown in certain states identified by the FDA. Tomatoes deemed as safe by the FDA are:

Cherry tomatoes Grape tomatoes Tomatoes sold with the vine still attached Tomatoes grown at home

During its countrywide investigation, the FDA has determined that all types of tomatoes grown in more than 40 U.S. states are safe for human consumption. The states whose tomatoes are not involved in the warning are: Colorado, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, certain counties of Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Consumers who are unsure where the tomatoes they have in their home were grown are encouraged to contact the store or place of purchase for confirmation or to throw the tomatoes away.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and stomach cramping. Consumers who have recently eaten raw tomatoes or foods containing raw tomatoes and are experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider.

For more information on the nationwide tomato warning from the FDA, visit the El Paso County Health Department’s Web site.