FDA identifies new outbreak of E. coli

Federal officials are investigating a new outbreak of E. coli O121:H19. A source of the pathogen has not yet been identified.

The investigation is in its early stages, and 33 patients have been discovered. The Food and Drug Administration has not released any patient information, such as where the patients live or their ages.

The FDA has begun traceback efforts, suggesting that investigators have identified some possible pathogen sources. However, the FDA has not reported what food it is tracing and has not begun on-site inspections or testing.

In other outbreak news, FDA investigators have made progress with their work on an outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 that was first reported on Oct. 30. The number of patients now stands at nine. The FDA has begun traceback but has not reported what food is being traced. The agency has also begun an on-site inspection and sample collection but has not reported what location is being inspected or what samples are being collected.

The patient count for an outbreak of Salmonella Thompson has been adjusted from 27 to 25. The FDA has begun traceback but has not reported what food is being traced. The outbreak was first reported on Oct. 17.

An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes has been declared over. Investigators identified four patients, but a source of the pathogen was not found. The FDA first reported the outbreak on Aug. 21. The FDA conducted traceback but did not report what food it traced. The agency also conducted sample testing but did not report what was tested.

The number of patients in an outbreak of infections from the Cyclospora parasite has increased to 47. The FDA has initiated traceback efforts but has not reported what it is tracing. Also, the agency has begun an on-site inspection and sample testing but has not reported what location it is inspected or what is being tested. The agency first posted the outbreak on June 19.

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