MINNESOTA, USA — A salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe continues to expand with 34 states now reporting cases of the illness.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports that the state has the highest number of cases. So far, 15 people here have gotten sick and two of them have died. 

Federal officials are adding new recalls which include pre-cut cantaloupe products.

The severity of this outbreak is due to a rare strain of salmonella that MDH Epidemiologist Carlota Medus says the illness is infecting people from the age of one to 91.

“That’s concerning,” said Medus. “That’s a lot of people getting sick from it.” 

Medus says genetic testing identified the similar strain locally that also matches the bacteria of whole and cut cantaloupe products made in Mexico which prompted federal officials to recall several brands with Malichita and Rudy brand labels. It also includes cubes and medleys sold in the Vinyard and RaceTrac brands.

Despite the recall, the number of cases continues to grow across the country. 

“There is a delay between the time people get sick and the time we find out about them,” said Medus. “The part we don’t know is are we seeing new cases that were exposed recently.” 

She said it’s also possible there’s cross-contamination between other products during mass processing, which is part of what’s called the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s traceback investigation.

“Which is ultimately taking that food item from the store shelf or the restaurant where you might have eaten it, all the way back to where it was grown,” said Alida Siebert, the department’s response and outreach supervisor. “There are boots on the ground, of course, at any facilities where this product might be.”

Most cases involve symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and fever which is spread by feces, particularly amongst the fruit that’s grown on the ground.

“Especially where there’s critters about,” said Seibert. “You can wash produce, but that doesn’t always guarantee you’re going to wash off all the salmonella and if you think about the surface of a cantaloupe, it’s pretty rough.” 

Their best advice is to cooperate with officials if you get sick to help pinpoint a source and to avoid certain cantaloupe altogether as that investigation continues.

“Because if we don’t have a starting point, it’s really difficult to keep looking for the product,” said Siebert. 

Medus says if you have symptoms that last longer than a couple of days go to the doctor. She also notes that the young and old, and people with compromised immune symptoms, are most at risk. 

For more information, you can also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

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