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BACKGROUND: Historically, Salmonella Newport outbreaks associated with PFGE pattern (XbaI PFGE pattern JJPX01.0061) have been linked to red round tomatoes grown on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in the Delmarva region . These outbreaks have occurred in 2002 (512 persons), 2005 (71 persons), 2006 (107 persons), and 2007 (57 persons), with an additional suspected outbreak in 2010 (46 persons). A definitive contamination source has not been found and SalmonellaNewport has not been isolated directly from any Delmarva region tomatoes. Wildlife has been evaluated as a possible source of contamination, but fecal samples from deer, turtles, and birds have been negative and do not support the hypothesis that animals are a source.
METHODS: In August 2014, PulseNet detected a multistate cluster of Salmonella entericaserotype Newport infections with a PFGE pattern previously linked to consumption of tomatoes harvested from Virginia’ Eastern Shore in the Delmarva region. Past investigations had not been linked to cucumbers or other produce items. To identify the contaminated food and find the source of the contamination, CDC, state and local health and agriculture departments and laboratories, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted epidemiological, trace-back, and laboratory investigations. A total of 275 patients in 29 states and the District of Columbia were identified, with illness onsets between May 20 and September 30, 2014.
RESULTS: Whole genome sequencing (WGS), a highly discriminating subtyping method, was used to further characterize PFGE pattern JJPX01.0061 isolates. Epidemiologic, microbiologic, and product trace-back evidence suggested that cucumbers were a source of SalmonellaNewport infections for some of the Maryland and Delaware cases in the 2014 outbreak.
CONCLUSIONS: This outbreak supports the continued evaluation of farm practices by FDA as a part of the development of a Produce Safety Rule ¶. These evaluations include conducting a risk assessment and working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders, including State Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Public Health, Cooperative Extension and industry in the Delmarva region to discuss a preventive strategy.