The CDC posted a food safety alert for an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to papayas imported from Mexico.
CDC, FDA, and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Uganda infections linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico. Do not eat, serve, or sell whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico or food that contains papaya from Mexico in these states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
Sixty-two ill people have been reported from eight states (Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas). Twenty-three people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Of 33 ill people with available information, 22 reported being of Hispanic ethnicity.
The hospitalization rate in this outbreak is 66 percent among people with information available. The hospitalization rate in Salmonella outbreaks is usually around 20 percent. Most of the sick people in this outbreak are adults over 60.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 14, 2019, to June 8, 2019. Most illnesses have occurred since April. Interviews with ill people and early product distribution information indicate the likely source of this outbreak is whole, fresh papayas from Mexico that were sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide more information as it comes available.
