Review the List of Selected Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Investigations and the Waterborne Disease & Outbreak Surveillance Reports and select ONE:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (20 Sep 2018). Foodborne Outbreaks: List of Selected Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Investigations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/outbreaks/multistate-outbreaks/outbreaks-list.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (16 Oct 2017). Waterborne Disease & Outbreak Surveillance Reports. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/surveillance-reports.html
Select an outbreak from one of these lists that you would like to research further. After selecting an outbreak, write a minimum 500-word expository essay by discussing the following:
- Provide a brief description of the outbreak (who, what, when, where).
- Describe the pathogen responsible for the outbreak, including the signs and symptoms of illness and complications that can lead to hospitalization and/or death.
- Discuss the potential source (food, water, air, etc.) and exposure pathways for the pathogen (ingested, inhaled, absorbed, etc.)
- What were the results of the outbreak? How many confirmed and/or suspected cases, hospitalizations and deaths occurred? How did the outbreak cease?
- What disease investigation principles were used to determine the pathogen, source and exposure pathway of the outbreak?
- How can similar outbreaks be prevented in the future?
References
Include at least three (3) references APA format.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Foodborne and waterborne pathogens are critical issues and can cause significant public health problems. Numerous outbreaks have been reported in the past years, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct studies and investigations to identify the pathogens, sources, and exposure pathways to manage and prevent further outbreaks. In this essay, we will select one outbreak from the List of Selected Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Investigations or the Waterborne Disease & Outbreak Surveillance Reports and discuss the pathogen responsible for the outbreak, source and exposure pathways, the investigation principles used to determine the outbreak, and the prevention strategies to reduce the risks.
Outbreak: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Maradol Papayas (2017)
Description:
In 2017, a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections was reported in the United States, linked to Maradol papayas. The outbreak resulted in 251 confirmed cases of salmonellosis, including 4 deaths reported from 25 states (CDC, 2018).
Pathogen:
The pathogen responsible for the outbreak was Salmonella Kiambu, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In severe cases, Salmonella infection can lead to hospitalization and even death, particularly in older adults, children, and people with weakened immune systems (CDC, 2018).
Source and exposure pathway:
The source of the outbreak was Maradol papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico. The exposure pathway was through the ingestion of papayas contaminated with Salmonella Kiambu. The contamination can occur in the fields, during harvesting, packing, and distribution (CDC, 2018).
Results:
A total of 251 confirmed cases of salmonellosis were reported, including 43 hospitalizations and 4 deaths. The outbreak ceased after the recall of the contaminated papayas from the market, and the CDC advised consumers to avoid purchasing and consuming papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm (CDC, 2018).
Investigation principles:
The CDC used multiple principles to investigate the outbreak, including epidemiology, trace-back investigations, traceback investigations, and laboratory testing. The epidemiological investigation involved interviewing the patients to identify the exposure history and identify the outbreak source. Trace-back investigations traced the implicated papayas back to the source farm in Mexico. Laboratory testing identified the specific serotype of Salmonella responsible for the outbreak (CDC, 2018).
Prevention strategies:
To prevent similar outbreaks in the future, public health officials and the food industry should take measures to reduce contamination at every stage of production, from growing to transportation and distribution. People should be aware of the potential risks of foodborne illnesses and practice proper food safety and hygiene practices, including washing hands and surfaces, cooking foods to proper temperatures, and avoiding unpasteurized foods (CDC, 2018).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (20 Sep 2018). Foodborne Outbreaks: List of Selected Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Investigations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/outbreaks/multistate-outbreaks/outbreaks-list.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu Infections Linked to Maradol Papayas. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/kiambu-07-17/index.html.
