More Salmonella SaintPaul Cases

Posted on Friday, March 13, 2009

South Dakota is reporting twenty-four more probable cases of Salmonella SaintPaul in a multi-state outbreak linked with sprouts. That's in addition to five confirmed cases reported last week.

South Dakota's cases have been reported in Brookings, Moody, Clay, Davison, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Pennington, Union and Yankton counties. Cases have also been reported in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.

Twenty-one percent of the cases have been male and seventy-nine percent female and ages have ranged from one to 76. Fourteen percent were hospitalized.

A possible link has been identified with sprouts from SunSprout Enterprises, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska but laboratory testing has yet to confirm sprouts as the source.

As a precautionary measure the company voluntarily recalled its alfalfa, onion and gourmet sprouts.

The sprouts were distributed to food distributors located in Iowa and Nebraska who further sell the product to restaurants and grocery stores, including in South Dakota.

A listing of the recalled sprout lot numbers can be found at the FDA website.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/sunsprouts03_09.html.

The "Best If Sold By" dates of the recalled lots go to March 14 so people may still have the sprouts in their home refrigerators. People who do have the recalled sprouts should throw them away. Anyone who is ill and may have eaten the sprouts should see their physician.

Salmonella may cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Most people recover without treatment but severe infections may occur; particularly in infants, elderly people and those with impaired immune systems.

See the Department of Health's website at: http://doh.sd.gov/DiseaseFacts/Salmonellosis.aspx for more information about Salmonella.

Consumers with questions about the recalled product can also call 402-331-0803 between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Daylight time.