On September 14, 2012, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the agency was investigating a Salmonella outbreak among 93 state residents who had become ill with Salmonella Braenderup infections. According to the CDPH, 67% of people who had become ill with Salmonella Braenderup infections had eaten mangos in the days before becoming ill. Later that day, the Washington Department of Health announced that the agency had identified 6 Salmonella Braenderup cases that were associated with 22 Canadian Salmonella cases that had earlier been identified as linked to the consumption of Daniella brand mangoes.
By September 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had announced that 121 cases of Salmonella Braenderup had been reported since July 1, 2012. At least 25 people had been hospitalized.
California reported the largest number of Salmonella cases (93); other states and federal health agencies in the U.S. and Canada were investigating further cases of Salmonella Braenderup, which may be linked to the consumption of mangoes. Other states reported Salmonella cases with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup: Delaware (1), Hawaii (4), Idaho (1), Illinois (2), Maine (1), Michigan (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), Oregon (1), Texas (2), Washington (8), and Wisconsin (1).
On August 29, California health officials reported that 80% of Salmonella Braenderup cases from the state were Hispanic and that a majority of California Salmonella cases reported purchasing the contaminated mangoes at Hispanic markets or grocery stores.
On September 13, the FDA placed Agricola Daniella mangoes on import alert, which means that they will be denied admission into the United States unless the importer can prove that they are not contaminated with Salmonella.
Mangoes recalled for Salmonella contamination
Splendid Products of Burlingame, California, distributor of the Mexican-grown Salmonella-contaminated mangoes, recalled all its Daniella brand mangoes for potential Salmonella contamination after the fruit was identified as the source of Salmonella cases in California, Washington and other states. The mangoes were sold between July 12 and Aug. 24 and were marked with a sticker reading PLU# 4959.
Mango Salmonella Branderup Outbreak: FAQs
Q: I ate mangoes and think I may have Salmonella. What are the symptoms of Salmonella infection?
A: Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical presentation is acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms include diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, often accompanied by fever of 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C). Other symptoms may include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, headache and body aches. The incubation period, or the time from ingestion of the bacteria until the symptoms start, is generally 6 to 72 hours; however, there is evidence that in some situations the incubation can be longer than 10 days.
Q: What should I do if I think I’m part of the mango Salmonella outbreak?
A: Contact your local health department to report your illness. If you believe you need medical assistance for your Salmonella infection, contact your healthcare provider.
Q: How will I know if I’m part of the mango Salmonella outbreak?
A: Salmonella bacteria can be detected in stool. A fecal sample provided to a healthcare provider or health department is placed in nutrient broth or on agar and incubated for 2-3 days. After that time, a trained microbiologist can identify Salmonella bacteria, if present, and confirm its identity by looking at biochemical reactions. Treatment with antibiotics before collecting a specimen for testing can affect bacterial growth in culture, and lead to a negative test result even when Salmonella causes the infection.
If Salmonella is isolated from an ill person’s stool, a bacterial isolate can be compared to isolates from other ill individuals – and possibly from food samples. Bacterial isolates that have matching “DNA Fingerprints” indicate a potential common source of Salmonella infection. Epidemiologists work to determine whether two people with positive bacterial isolates with indistinguishable DNA fingerprints are part of a common outbreak – in this case, one tied to Salmonella-contaminated mangoes.
Q: What complications can result from Salmonella infection?
A: Between 5% and 30% of patients who suffer an acute episode of infectious gastroenteritis, including the gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella infection, develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a chronic disorder characterized by alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea, accompanied by abdominal cramping and pain.
A small percentage of people who become ill with Salmonella infections develop reactive arthritis, which is characterized by the inflammation of one or more joints following an infection localized in another portion of the body (in this case, Salmonella in the digestive tract). The symptoms of reactive arthritis typically occur between 1 and 3 weeks after the original Salmonella infection.