Health Law

Salmonella outbreak in Hawaii: linked to imported ahi tuna?

By Drew Falkenstein

KITV in Honolulu reported today that ten people have been infected and sickened by Salmonella in Hawaii recently, and all report having recently consumed imported ahi tuna.

At least 10 people have fallen ill with salmonella infections after eating imported ahi tuna, Hawaii Department of Health officials said on Thursday.

The people who became sick said they had eaten raw ahi, usually served as poke, at different places on Oahu, DOH officials said.

There have been 13 other cases of the same type of salmonella partyphi B in other states on the mainland, officials said.

"The Department of Health is concerned about these cases that are similar to a cluster of cases we investigated two years ago," Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said. "With the help of the U.S. (Food and Drug Administration), we hope to identify the source so we can prevent any further illness."

From October 2007 to February 2008, DOH officials found 35 cases of the same pattern of salmonella.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on April 22, 2010 (boomark / email).