The Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that occurred over the summer seems to have been controlled…now that the CDC has determined the culprit. According to the FDA, “As of August 25, 2008, a total of 1,442 persons had been reported infected with the outbreak strain. At least 286 persons have been hospitalized, and the infection might have contributed to two deaths. The outbreak began late in April 2008, and most persons became ill in May or June.”

The FDA now claims that the outbreak appears to be over. However, the government is still monitoring for cases of infection. While tomatoes were the original culprit, it is now believed that jalapenos and Serrano peppers were the primary transmitters. According to the FDA, “Contamination of produce items might have occurred on the farm or during processing or distribution; the mechanism of contamination has not been determined. These findings indicate that additional measures are needed to enhance food safety and reduce illnesses from produce that is consumed raw.”
 
Also according to the FDA were the statistics that showed that white males between the ages of 20 and 29 years were the primary target of the disease, with Hispanic males coming in second.
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did try to trace the outbreak down to a specific area, restaurant, or group of people but did not have any luck. Although the tomato advisory was lifted on July 17, the jalapeño and serrano pepper advisories remain in effect.

Serrano Pepper | Injuries 

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