(Nexstar) – U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak of Salmonella disease that was linked to Florida growers, where contaminated cucumbers are linked to more than 550 diseases last year.
The cucumber, grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed through the sale of fresh start produce, is linked to at least 26 illnesses in 15 states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported late Monday. At least nine people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The states with reported illnesses are Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The cucumbers will be sold to restaurants, stores and foodservice distributors between April 29th and May 19th, and may still be in storage this week. The illness was reported between April 2nd and April 28th, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The outbreak has resulted in 551 people getting sick, resulting in 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, DC, as part of a follow-up test in April.
In the current outbreak, authorities have discovered salmonella bacteria in farm samples that match those of people who have become ill.
Health officials are investigating where the potential contaminated cucumbers have been distributed. According to the CDC, a person who ate cucumbers on a cruise ship ate cucumbers on a cruise ship. Organic cucumbers have not been affected, officials said.
Retailers must notify consumers who may have purchased contaminated produce. If consumers don’t know the source of cucumbers, they should throw them away, officials said.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick will recover within a week. Infectious diseases can be severe in infants, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems that require hospitalization.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
