Officials: 66 cases of Salmonella outbreak reported in Arizona
Sep 4, 2015, 6:21 PM
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services has determined the current number of local Salmonella cases that occurred from a nationwide outbreak, according to a recent press release.
The cases, which total as much as 285 across 27 states, have been tied to cucumbers imported from Mexico and have not been affected by Arizona crops.
Out of the 285 total cases, 66 of them reside in the state. Maricopa County has the most cases with 49, followed by 10 in Pima County, one in Apache County and two each in Coconino, Pinal and Yuma counties.
Seventy-five percent of those cases are in children under the age of 17.
Officials believe the outbreak stemmed from garden variety cucumbers grown outside the U.S. One produce company, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce in San Diego, California, have initiated a recall of their garden cucumbers from Rancho Don Juanito in Mexico.
Mark Killian, director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, said officials have been working to secure the food supply in Arizona.
“Agriculture is at the root of food safety,” he said in a recent press release. “The food supply in Arizona and across the United States is one of the safest in the world, because we work to stop foodborne illness before it reaches the consumer. We are part of an advanced food inspection system that ensures the safest possible food supply.”
Some hospitalizations have been reported, but there have not been any reported deaths as of Friday.