A Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Cucumbers Has Killed One Person And Sickened Hundreds

Tobias Schwarz / AFP / Getty Images

One person has died and almost 300 have fallen ill due to a salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico, according to authorities.

Officials say 285 people have been infected with salmonella poona since July 3, with 53 of those people hospitalized. One person died in California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Illnesses were reported in 27 states, but Arizona recorded the most with 60 infections. California has 51 recorded illnesses, and Utah has had 30.

The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating the outbreak of salmonella poona infections, which officials believe are linked to the imported cucumbers distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.

California Department of Public Health / Via cdph.ca.gov

Many people interviewed by health officials reported eating cucumbers in the week before they fell ill.

On Friday, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce voluntarily recalled all the cucumbers it sold under the “Limited Edition” brand label between Aug. 1 and Sep. 3.

"It is unlikely that cucumbers in retail grocery stores will have any identifying brand information," according to the California Department of Public Health. "[The department] recommends that consumers check with their grocer to determine if the cucumbers they purchased are impacted by this warning."

Symptoms of salmonella infections include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to the CDC. The infection can also spread from the intestine to the bloodstream.

SOURCE: BuzzFeed