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NYC Resident Dies From Papaya Salmonella Outbreak
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 22, 2017
Modified Aug 8, 2017
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 22, 2017
Modified Aug 8, 2017
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multi-state salmonella outbreak—linked to Maradol papayas—that has hospitalized left a person dead in New York City. The CDC says that 12 people have been hospitalized and a total of 47 have been infected across 12 states.
The CDC recommended "that consumers not eat, restaurants not serve, and retailers not sell yellow Maradol papayas until we learn more. If you aren’t sure if the papaya you bought is a yellow Maradol papaya, you can ask the place of purchase. Restaurants and retailers can ask their supplier. When in doubt, don’t eat, sell, or serve them and throw them out. Wash and sanitize countertops as well as drawers or shelves in refrigerators where papayas were stored."
The illnesses started in May and June, and the CDC found a cluster of infected people in Maryland who all said they ate papayas from the same grocery store. Investigators took papayas from the store and discovered two kinds of salmonella—Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson. The CDC says the Kiambu strain more closely matched the ill people, adding, "CDC is working to collect additional information to determine whether the recent Salmonella Thompson illness in Maryland is part of this multistate outbreak."
Thirteen people in New York and twelve in New Jersey were infected. The CDC expects more illnesses to be reported, as it can take two to four weeks for illnesses to be linked to the outbreak.
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papaya
salmonella
salmonella kiambu
salmonella outbreak
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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