ATLANTA, April 27 (UPI) — An outbreak of salmonella that has sickened at least 73 people in 18 states appears to be linked to cucumbers from Mexico, U.S. health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control said cases have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin, CNN reported Saturday. No deaths have been reported, but 27 percent of the victims were sick enough to be hospitalized.
The virus, the Saintpaul strain of salmonella, appears to have come from cucumbers supplied by Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Miracle Greenhouse of Culiacan, Mexico, and distributed by Tricar Sales Inc. of Rio Rico, Ariz., the CDC said.
All potentially tainted cucumbers have been removed from stores, the CDC said. The distributors must demonstrate their cucumbers are free of salmonella before they can ship to the United States.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).