Michigan: Salmonella cluster linked to eating raw kibbeh, at least two stores recall meat
State of Michigan health and agriculture officials are investigating a a cluster of nine cases of laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Typhimurium infection. One common food source has been the consumption of the Middle Eastern dish, Kibbeh, according to a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development news release Jan. 25.
Image/CDC
Although not all of the cases reported eating raw kibbeh, health officials say six of the nine people have reported eating raw kibbeh on Dec. 7 and 8 of last year.
According to the release, the dates of illness onsets range from Dec. 9, 2012 to Jan. 7, 2013. The cases range in age from 2 to 87 years, including five females and four males. More than half of the cases were hospitalized. Most of the cases reside in southeast Michigan (Huron, Macomb, Delta-Menominee, Oakland, and Wayne counties).
Agriculture officials say, in addition to the Michigan cases, there are eight other cases nationally.
The investigation is ongoing.
The salmonella cluster has prompted at least two companies to issue recalls of ground beef products. Sterling Heights, Mich. retail store, Jouni Meats, Inc., recalled approximately 500 pounds of ground beef products yesterday and Troy, Mich. retail store, Gab Halal Foods, recalled about 550 pounds today.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Most individuals infected with Salmonella bacteria often experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection. The duration of illness is typically 4-7 days and most people recover without treatment.
In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
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[…] Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has been linked to ground beef from two Michigan stores, Jouni Meats, Inc. and Gab Halal Foods, now stands at 18 people sickened in five states, according […]