Florida

Florida cucumbers may be linked to two separate salmonella outbreaks, FDA says

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2024

Florida cucumbers may be linked to two separate salmonella outbreaks, FDA says

An outbreak of salmonella that has infected 162 people in 26 states and the District of Columbia has been potentially linked to Florida-grown cucumbers, according to a release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and they may be connected to a different outbreak with 158 people affected.

Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida voluntarily recalled cucumbers shipped in bulk cartons directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in 14 states from May 17th through May 21, 2024, after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture found that a cucumber sample tested positive for Salmonella africana. The FDA has been investigating any possible connections to the outbreak.

“Of the 65 people interviewed, 47 (72%) reported eating cucumbers,” the FDA said Wednesday. So far 54 people have been hospitalized, according to a notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eighteen of the infected people were in Florida. There have been no deaths reported.

The FDA and the CDC are also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella braenderup infections, with 158 illnesses in 23 states, which the FDA said shares some similarities. “Investigators are working to determine whether the two outbreaks could be linked to the same food vehicle,” the FDA said.

Multiple outbreaks at a time are unusual. The second outbreak of salmonella “came out of left field,” said food safety lawyer Bill Marler. “We’re not quite sure the second outbreak is linked to the first. It might have been, but until they do a little more epidemiological investigation it’s hard to know.”

Marler, who has worked on food safety cases since the Jack-in-the-Box e. coli outbreak in 1993, said the multiple strains of salmonella may also have caused delays with the investigation.

“I’m a bit surprised it took the FDA and CDC so long to figure out the link for the africana outbreak,” he said, “but it may have been… to the two outbreaks, some of the people from the other strain also ate cucumbers.

“It may have been a pretty confounding investigation,” he said.

“The public should be on alert.” Marler told USA TODAY.

The CDC is also investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, which has sickened 109 people, including 33 who were hospitalized.

A previous salmonella outbreak this year linked to organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s affected 12 people in seven states, including Florida, leaving one person hospitalized.

The recalled cucumbers were whole, dark green, approximately 1.5 – 2.0 inches in diameter, and 5-9 inches long. Mini cucumbers and English cucumbers were not included in the recall.

“Cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. are from a variety of growers,” the FDA said. “The grower that likely supplied potentially contaminated cucumbers is no longer growing and harvesting cucumbers for the season.”

Where were people infected with salmonella?

So far, the people infected in this salmonella outbreak are in:

Alabama: 1
Arizona: 1
Connecticut: 2
Delaware: 1
District of Columbia: 1
Florida: 18
Georgia: 8
Indiana: 1
Iowa: 3
Kentucky: 4
Maine: 1
Maryland: 2
Massachusetts: 5
Michigan: 4
Minnesota: 5
Missouri: 1
New Jersey: 3
New York: 19
North Carolina: 7
Ohio: 9
Pennsylvania: 27
Rhode Island: 4
South Carolina: 8
Tennessee: 8
Texas: 2
Virginia: 17

“This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,” the CDC said. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella.”

Which stores sold the recalled cucumbers?

The FDA has not released any information on affected retailers.

“I am surprised there isn’t more data out there where the cucumbers went and what grocery stores they may have gone to, what service outlets they may have gone to,” Marler said.

“That might be because the product has a short shelf life and the FDA figured they were off the market.”

What is salmonella?

“Salmonella are bacteria that make people sick,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its fact page.

Salmonella can make people ill with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps which can last from four days up to a week. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection, the CDC said. Most cases of Salmonella infections pass, but some people may need to be hospitalized.

Salmonella bacteria cause “about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year,” the CDC said. “Food is the source for most of these illnesses.”

What you should do

If you recently bought any cucumbers, check with the store where you bought them to see if they were part of the recall. Ifd so, or if you’re not sure, don’t eat them. The CDC recommends you wash any surfaces they may have touched with hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Call a doctor if you have any of these severe symptoms:

Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
Bloody diarrhea
So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Not peeing much
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up

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Florida

Florida family makes cross-county journey to save dog bitten by rattlesnake

Published

7 hours ago

June 18, 2024

Press Room

Florida family makes cross-county journey to save dog bitten by rattlesnake

Race to save dog bitten by rattlesnake

A dog is recovering after being bitten by a rattlesnake in Osceola County.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A family made a cross-county trek in central Florida to save their dog that was bitten by a rattlesnake.

Thankfully, the pup, Abby, survived and is back home with her family a week after the attack on June 9. After the terrifying ordeal, her family is speaking out to spread awareness and advise pet owners if they find themselves in a similar situation.

The attack happened in St. Cloud, but they had to drive more than an hour to Melbourne because not every vet has anti-venom on hand. The emergency vet, Animal Specialty and Emergency Center, on Eau Gallie, was open and had treatment ready.

“I let the dogs out, and within five minutes, all of them were barking,” said Sayre, who has six other dogs, including Abby.

They all spotted the snake, but Sayer didn’t know any of them had been attacked immediately.

After spotting the snake by their family’s cabin in St. Cloud, the family quickly noticed Abby wasn’t acting like herself.

“She was just pouring drool, and she’ll drool but not that much,” she said.

She was bitten in her ear, and quickly, her face started to swell. The entire family and friends jumped into action, calling frantically to find a vet who could help save Abby’s life.

“I was just trying to keep her awake because she kept dozing off. I kept her calm, but I just wanted her to stay awake,” said Abby’s mother.

The closest open vet they could find that had anti-venom on hand was more than an hour away, in Melbourne. Abby was bitten around 7 a.m., and they didn’t make it to the vet until 9 a.m. on June 9.

“It can be fatal, and it can be fatal pretty quickly,” said Dr. Marissa Rutt, an emergency veterinarian at the Animal Specialty & Emergency Center of Brevard.

Rutt was the first to see Abby. They quickly gave her anti-venom, but she didn’t improve right away.

“She needed multiple, multiple vials of treatment,” said the doctor.

Her family was there holding her paw and getting ready to say goodbye.

“We don’t know if she’s going to make it,” said Sayre. “We thought this might be the last time.”

Finally, after the seventh vial of anti-venom, Abby turned a corner and started to get better.

“It literally binds to the venom in their blood and helps to remove it from their system,” said Rutt.

Abby spent a day at the emergency vet and the treatment cost around $6,000. A week later, Abby still has some swelling around her neck, but at least she’s alive.

“If anybody knows us at all, it’s that we love our pets more than people, and they’re our family,” said Sayre.

Rattlesnake bites are more common during the summer. Dr. Rutt says no over-the-counter medicine can help stop the spread. Minutes matter when a rattlesnake strikes and venom starts to take over.

“Have a plan. Don’t ever think that can’t happen to you, or I live in the city; this can’t happen because it can,” she said. “It can happen anywhere.”

Having a plan means having an emergency vet in your phone contact who is ready to go and has anti-venom on hand. Look into that before you’re in a crisis! Also, every case is different, but Dr. Rutt says one hour from when the snake bites to when you make it to the vet gives your pet the best chance of survival.

Abby’s family has started a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses for this unexpected emergency. You can access the site HERE.

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Florida

Florida Panthers started in Miami-Dade County, but are they now Broward’s team?

Published

14 hours ago

June 17, 2024

Press Room

Florida Panthers started in Miami-Dade County, but are they now Broward’s team?

SUNRISE, Fla – Everywhere you look in the 954, there’s Florida Panthers buzz.

From banners at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, to signs on county buses, and flags on light poles.

On players’ helmets is the logo for Visit Lauderdale, the tourism arm of the county.

So can Broward County rightly claim the team as its own?

Mayor Nan Rich thinks so.

“The Panthers are Broward County’s team!” she exclaimed. “We’re happy everybody loves the Panthers but they only have one home, and that’s in Broward County.”

County administrator Monica Cepero, a die-hard Cats fan, proudly showed off her collection of bobbleheads and jerseys and made the bold prediction: Panthers will win the Stanley Cup in five games.

But Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava responded with a reminder that the team started in Miami in 1993, making their debut at the old Miami Arena.

“I’m a regional thinker. Mayor Nan Rich knows that. We’re great friends, so it’s a friendly rivalry,” Levine Cava said. “I’m willing to share, they started here in Miami-Dade.”

Still, ice hockey isn’t a household sport, no matter where in South Florida you live.

In interviews outside grocery stores and strip malls around Fort Lauderdale and Miami, many told Local 10 they weren’t big hockey fans and didn’t know much about the sport.

Some said they preferred soccer.

Others, however, were hopeful that the success of the team will create new fans.

The phrases might be different, but the sentiment is the same: Vamos Gatos! Go, Cats, go!

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Florida

Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions: Who wins Stanley Cup Final Game 5?

Published

21 hours ago

June 17, 2024

Press Room

Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions: Who wins Stanley Cup Final Game 5?

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers play on Tuesday, June 18 in Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific time (8 p.m. Eastern time) and can be seen on ABC (stream with free trial from FUBO).

Who will win the Stanley Cup Final game?

Check out these NHL Playoffs picks and predictions for Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

The Panthers are a 1.5-goal favorite over the Oilers in NHL playoff odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook.

Florida is -135 on the moneyline. Edmonton is +115.

The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals.

Stanley Cup Final schedule, TV channels: How to watch Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers

The site’s formula predicts that the Panthers will beat the Oilers in Game 5 of their NHL postseason series on Tuesday.

The site predicts that Florida will defeat Edmonton in Game 5 of the NHL Finals, with a final score of 4-3.

Who wins Stanley Cup Final?: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions, odds

Bleacher Nation: Bet the Panthers to beat Oilers in Game 5

The site predicts that Florida will get a victory over Edmonton on Tuesday and is taking the over for goals.

Clutch Points: Take the Oilers with the points on Tuesday vs. Panthers

RB Hayek writes: “The Oilers fought for their lives to stay alive. While the Panthers may end up winning the Stanley Cup in front of their fans, it will not be the cakewalk it was in the first two games. When a team is desperate, they will do anything to avoid going down. Expect the Oilers to show some fight and do everything in their power to stay alive. Consequently, the Panthers may end up hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup, but the Oilers will cover the spread.”

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STREAM THE GAME: Watch Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final games with FUBO (free trial)

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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