Details:

Alternative Title:
Foodborne Pathog Dis
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2014.1812
Personal Author:
Walsh, Kelly A. ; Bennett, Sarah D. ; Mahovic, Michael ; Gould, L. Hannah
Walsh, Kelly A. ; Bennett, Sarah D. ; Mahovic, Michael ; Gould, L. Hannah Less -
Description:
Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Melons have been associated with enteric infections. We reviewed outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System during 1973-2011 in which the implicated food was a single melon type. We also reviewed published literature and records obtained from investigating agencies. During 1973-2011, 34 outbreaks caused by a single melon type were reported, resulting in 3602 illnesses, 322 hospitalizations, 46 deaths, and 3 fetal losses. Cantaloupes accounted for 19 outbreaks (56%), followed by watermelons (13, 38%) and honeydew (2, 6%). Melon-associated outbreaks increased from 0.5 outbreaks per year during 1973-1991 to 1.3 during 1992-2011. Salmonella was the most common etiology reported (19, 56%), followed by norovirus (5, 15%). Among 13 outbreaks with information available, melons imported from Mexico and Central America were implicated in 9 outbreaks (69%) and domestically grown melons were implicated in 4 outbreaks (31%). The point of contamination was known for 20 outbreaks; contamination occurred most commonly during growth, harvesting, processing, or packaging (13, 65%). Preventive measures focused on reducing bacterial contamination of melons both domestically and internationally could decrease the number and severity of melon-associated outbreaks.
Subject:
[+]
Article
Consumer Product Safety
Cucurbitaceae
Disease Outbreaks
Foodborne Diseases
Food Contamination
Fruit
Humans
Norovirus
Population Surveillance
Salmonella

Source:
Foodborne Pathog Dis. 11(12):945-952.
Pubmed ID:
25407556
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4627691
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Name as Subject:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:9de0b47c94343d1cadb02fd44731251aeaa4f116f4f9b3660e139d7a226f4944
File Type:

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