Death linked to cheese recall in Quebec
29.08.2008 20:04
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
 Antibiotics are needed only if the infection spreads to the blood, said Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec's director of public health.(CBC)One person has died and 87 cases of salmonellosis have been linked to three brands of contaminated cheese in Quebec, provincial health authorities said Friday in announcing a recall. The spike in cases occurred in three regions: Chaudire Appalaches, Estrie Mauricie and Centre-du-Qubec, Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province's director of public health, told a news conference in Montreal. The three regions, which are in an area south of Quebec City, the Eastern Townships and central Quebec, experienced an increase in cases in recent weeks. The death was an elderly person in Chaudire Appalaches, Arruda said. About 40 per cent of the people infected had to be hospitalized for at least a day to be rehydrated or for other symptoms, Arruda said. More cases are expected to occur in the three regions. Suspected cause of outbreak found, 3 brands recalledThe Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Food, in co-operation with Fromage la Chaudire of Lac-Mgantic, warned consumers not to eat any of the non-refined hard cheeses called La Chaudire, Polo and Tradition because they might contain Salmonella enteritidis bacteria. Products produced between July 24 and Aug. 24 have been recalled. At the beginning of the investigation, anecdotal information and questionnaires pointed to cheese being involved in the outbreak, Arruda said. "We immediately ordered a special study of the patients as well as other individuals in the region who could have eaten the same food in order to identify the cause," Arruda said in French. "We found a similar genetic print in many of these cases." "We believe there could be contamination from a specific distribution point." Proper hygiene importantYoung children, elderly people and people with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of rare complications of salmonellosis, such as dehydration. Most healthy people will recover from salmonella food poisoning on their own, and antibiotics are needed only if the infection spreads to the blood, Arruda noted. Anyone who develops symptoms of fever or chills should consult their doctor, he advised. There are 1,000 cases per year of salmonellosis in Quebec on average. Previous outbreaks of salmonellosis in Canada have been linked to fruits and vegetables, small animals such as pets infected with the bacteria, and chocolate. People are urged to wash their hands properly after using the washroom, touching an animal, raw meat, or knives and cutting boards used to prepared uncooked food. Guy Auclair of the province's agricultural department said the strain found in the Quebec cheese is not linked to the listeria-tainted processed meat that prompted a recall of more than 200 products made by a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: Salmonella FAQHealth HeadlinesDeath linked to cheese recall in Quebec One person has died and 87 cases of salmonella food poisoning have been linked to three brands of contaminated cheese in Quebec, provincial health authorities said Friday in announcing a recall.Benefits of flu shots for reducing deaths less than thought: studyThe flu shot does help protect against specific strains of influenza but its ability to help prevent deaths among the elderly may have been exaggerated, a new study suggests. Walkerton mayor calls for public inquiry into listeriosis outbreakThe mayor of Walkerton, the southern Ontario town where a deadly E. coli disaster struck eight years ago, called on Friday for a public inquiry into the listeriosis outbreak.Researchers track Alzheimer's-linked protein in live brainsScientists for the first time have peered into people's brains to directly measure the ebb and flow of a substance notorious for its role in Alzheimer's disease. Findings may have implications for how the brain-injured are tracked in intensive-care units.Alberta doctors to province: ban cellphone use while drivingAlberta doctors say they support a private member's bill that calls for a ban on the use of cellphones while driving. Health FeaturesVIDEOListeriosisFollowing the path of the listeriosis outbreak (8:37)YOUR INTERVIEWListeriosisDr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreakVIDEOListeriosis Dr. Dara Maker answers questions about outbreak (4:35)IN DEPTHMedical isotopesThe backbone of nuclear medicineIN DEPTHWest Nile NUTRITIONSchool lunchesHealthy back-to-school lunch tipsPeople who read this also read …
| 
Add comment