An individual from Pima County, AZ has died, becoming the third person to die as part of the multistate Salmonella Poona outbreak, Arizona health officials report. The outbreak, appears to be linked to eating garden variety cucumbers grown in Mexico, has sickened 85 in Arizona as of Sep. 17.

Image/CFIA
Image/CFIA

According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week, 418 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona have been reported from 31 states.

The majority of people in Arizona who are sick with this strain of Salmonella have eaten garden variety cucumbers grown outside of Arizona.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations have identified cucumbers imported from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce as a likely source of the infections in this outbreak.

Several recalls of cucumbers that may be contaminated with Salmonella have been announced as a result of this investigation:

  • On September 11, 2015, Custom Produce Sales voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold under the Fat Boy label starting August 1, 2015. Unlabeled cucumbers packed into a black reusable plastic container, and sold in Nevada since August 1, 2015, are also covered by this recall. These cucumbers were sent to Custom Produce Sales from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.
  • On September 4, 2015, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold under the “Limited Edition” brand label during the period from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015.

Arizona sees about 1,000 cases of salmonella each year – most of these cases are sporadic and not related to outbreaks. Arizona only sees a couple of major salmonella outbreaks each year with greater than 10 cases.