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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its investigation into two separate Salmonella outbreaks linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entreés produced by Barber Foods. The federal agency noted Thursday evening that “the likely source for the two outbreaks is different.”
Since the last CDC update on July 13, 2015, one additional ill person has been reported from Oklahoma. Seven people infected with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from Minnesota (5), Oklahoma (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from April 5, 2015, to June 23, 2015. Two people were hospitalized.
CDC, several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are currently investigating these infection outbreaks linked to raw, frozen chicken products from Barber Foods. The two outbreaks are caused by different strains of Salmonella Enteritidis, CDC stated.
As of now, this outbreak has not been connected with an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrées produced by Aspen Foods. For the latest information about that outbreak, go here.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback information indicate that raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrées produced by Barber Foods are the likely source of this outbreak. In interviews, ill people answered questions about foods eaten and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of six people for whom information is known, five (83 percent) reported eating a frozen, raw, stuffed chicken entrée produced by Barber Foods in the week before becoming ill.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) collected 15 samples of unopened frozen chicken entrées produced by Barber Foods from retail locations for laboratory testing.
MDA isolated Salmonella from 14 of these samples; the outbreak strain was isolated from one sample. In addition, MDH and MDA collected two samples of unopened Barber Foods Chicken Kiev from an ill person’s home for laboratory testing. MDA and MDH isolated the Salmonella outbreak strain from one of these samples. Laboratory testing is ongoing.
CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill people and to interview them. Updates will be provided when more information is available.
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