Salmonella Outbreak Moves North of the US Border, Further Cases are Feared

As the outbreak of unexplained reported Salmonella cases in the US reaches 1,000, the first Canadian case is confirmed. The lack of results from US investigators has done little to allay fears of further cases.

Yesterday, the CBC reported the first official case of Salmonella Saintpaul, which has ravaged the US in recent months.The last coverage of this issue by major news media reported that the outbreak had been tracked to Mexico and Florida sources (CNN report, June 20th, 2008). One could reasonably assume that no further cases had been reported in the US—implying that containment had been reached. Further research has found that this is not the case, although one must look to 'specialty' broadcasts for recent updates. Lou Dobbs Tonight correspondent Louise Schiavone reported (also yesterday) that not only the number of cases, but also the US states effected, had increased: 982 cases in 40 states plus DC (full video here). It is clear that although newsworthy, it doesn't reach the level of the ongoing election process, nuclear disarmament, or the current economic crisis. Not so in Canada. As quoted by the CBC coverage:

"From the information that we have right now it looks like this person acquired their infection when they were travelling in the U.S," said Andrea Ellis, an epidemiologist with the agency's centre for foodborne, environmental and zoonotic (transmitted to humans from lower vertebrates) diseases.

"Given the number of cases in the U.S. and the number of [Canadian] travellers to the U.S., we certainly would expect to see some cases like that."

She goes further to say, when questioned about a possible Canadian source of this new case, that "there continues to be no evidence that we have this pathogen originating here in Canada." The FDA has broadened its list of suspect items to include not only tomatoes, but also cilantro, bulb onions, and jalapeno peppers, under continued criticism for the slow progress of its investigation. Perhaps with the help of Canadian health officials (PHAC) the cause of this outbreak will be identified before any more US or Canadian residents fall ill.