CDC Confirms Dozens of Salmonella Cases in Multi-State Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on April 23, 2020. Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said late last week that dozens of people across the United States were sickened in connection with a salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers.

Last week, a notice published on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website said that SunFed Produce issued a voluntary recall of “fresh American/slicer cucumbers” grown by a company based in Sonora, Mexico, sold between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26 of this year. The CDC said the bacterial contamination may be linked to SunFed’s cucumbers.

In an update on Nov. 29, the CDC said that 68 people were sickened in the outbreak across 19 states, 18 of whom were hospitalized.

A map published by the agency revealed that 16 people were sickened in Montana, eight cases were reported in Colorado, and seven cases were reported in Oregon. Five were sickened in Texas, five in Washington state, and five in Massachusetts.

The updated map shows that cases were also reported in South Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, and California.

“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 agency said. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella.”

The CDC warned that people who “bought whole fresh American cucumbers from Oct. 12 through Nov. 26 and can’t tell where they are from” are advised to “throw them away” due to potential salmonella contamination. It also advised washing items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled cucumbers with hot, soapy water or by using a dishwasher.

According to the health agency, people who have “SunFed Mexico”-branded cucumbers in their refrigerators are also advised not to consume them but to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Salmonella Symptoms

Health authorities say salmonella infections may cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Salmonella can sometimes enter the bloodstream, causing more significant illnesses such as endocarditis, arthritis, and arterial infections.

In rare cases, the bacterial infections can be fatal, officials say. Young children, older people, and individuals with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk of developing severe illness.

Health officials say that individuals who may be sick with salmonella should call their health care provider right away if they have more severe symptoms, including a fever higher than 102 degrees F in combination with diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea for more than three days without signs of improvement.

Other serious symptoms include excessive vomiting or signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, dry throat, less frequent urination, and feeling dizzy or lightheaded when standing. Antibiotics are often used to treat people with severe salmonella infections, while patients with diarrhea are advised to drink more fluids.

The CDC estimates that salmonella causes 1.35 million infections annually, mostly through food, and about 420 deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also estimates 125,000 chicken infections and 43,000 turkey infections each year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.