The CDC has just reported updated outbreak numbers for the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to contaminated eggs produced by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms.
Salmonella Enteritidis Case Counts Rise Significantly
In early July 2010, CDC identified a nationwide sustained increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis cases uploaded to PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. This increase began in May 2010.
From May 1 to August 25, 2010, a total of 2,403 Salmonella Enteritidis isolates with PFGE pattern JEGX01.0004 were reported to the CDC. Based on the previous 5 years of historical data, the CDC would have expected to see an average of 933 illnesses during that time period.
This means that there are almost 1500 Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses above the expected norm. These illnesses have now been linked to the egg recall.
It is important to note that illnesses occurring after July 23 might not yet be reported due to the time lag between a person testing positive and that isolate being uploaded into the CDC database. This usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
The Salmonella Egg Outbreak Investigation
Investigations by public health officials in 10 states have identified 26 clusters where more than one ill person with the outbreak strain has eaten. These investigations revealed that shell eggs are the likely source of infections in many of these restaurants or event clusters. Wright County Egg, in Galt, Iowa, was an egg supplier in 15 of these 26 restaurants or event clusters.
A formal traceback was conducted by officials in California, Colorado, and Minnesota, in collaboration with FDA and CDC, to find a common source of the eggs. Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms (both located in Iowa) were identified as the source of many of the contaminated eggs.
The FDA is currently conducting extensive investigations at both of these egg farms in Iowa. The investigations involve sampling, records review and looking for potential sources of contamination, such as common feed between the two farms.
Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms Issue Egg Recall of 550,000,000 eggs
Due to the overwhelming evidence that their farms were the source of this Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak, both farms have now issued recalls: Wright County Egg on August 13 (with an expansion of that recall on August 18), and Hillandale Farms on August 20.
The total number of recalled eggs has now risen to over 550,000,000.
Simon & Luke Can Help
If you tested positive for Salmonella after eating eggs or egg products, and have been contacted by your local health department, then you are likely related to this outbreak. If so, you are entitled to significant compensation for your illness – including payment for all of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering you endured.
The Salmonella lawyers at Simon & Luke are currently investigating this salmonella egg outbreak. We have represented over 2000 victims of salmonella across the United States, filing hundreds of salmonella lawsuits (including the first salmonella egg lawsuit in Texas) and recovering millions of dollars in salmonella settlements for our clients. Call us toll free at 1-888-335-4901 or contact us by email at ron@simonluke.com – we are happy to answer your questions free of charge.
