KING COUNTY, WA - Public Health - Seattle & King County in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health have mobilized staff to investigate a cluster of salmonella infections (serogroup C2, type muenchen) in King County. The states of Oregon and California have also identified cases of S. muenchen.
Epidemiologic techniques have identified commercially distributed, unpasteurized orange juice as the primary vector of these infections. The implicated orange juice is a product produced by Sun Orchard. It is labeled as "Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice," and is produced at the company's Tempe, Arizona plant. Cases related to this juice have now also been detected in Oregon and California.The juice appears to have had extensive distribution. At least 85 restaurants and other food outlets are known to have received the juice in Western Washington; additional outlets are likely, but are unknown at this point. The company has issued a recall of its unpasteurized orange juice effective today.
"In King County, we have had 13 confirmed cases related to this outbreak and several other suspected, but unconfirmed cases," said Janice Boase, Deputy Chief of Communicable Disease and Epidemiology for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "All of the people currently identified have experienced sypmtoms typical of salmonella and are recovering from their illness and have not required hospitalization."
Usually, only 8 cases of S. muenchen are reported in Washington State each year.
Salmonella is a bacteria that causes infection of the intestines. Symptoms usually develop 6-72 hours after the bacteria are swallowed. Symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, headache, fever, vomiting, and dehydration. These may disapper without treament in 2-5 days.
Persons who believe that they drank unpasteurized orange juice and develop the symptoms of salmonella should consult their health care provider for diagnosis and care. Treatment for salmonella infections consists of rest and drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Consumers having questions about unpasteurized orange juice products may call 1-800-505-8423.
Tips for identifying unpasteurized and pasteurized orange juice
There is a higher risk of food borne illness with any kind of unpasteurized juice. Pasteurizing juice means heating it hot enough and long enough to kill bacteria. You can tell whether the juice you buy in the store is pasteurized by the following: The juice is unrefrigerated on the shelf in a commercially sealed bottle or can. Frozen juice concentrate has been adequately heat treated, even if the label does not say so. The product is labeled as pasteurized.
NOTE: If the product is refrigerated, it may or may not be pasteurized. The only way to tell for sure if a refrigerated juice product is pasteurized is if it specifically says "pasteurized" on the label.
