Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Tuna in Sushi Sickens 53 in 9 States

Most of those affected specifically said they ate “spicy” tuna, according to the CDC. (Photo: Flickr) 

A salmonella outbreak likely linked to raw tuna has sickened 53 people in nine states, health officials said Thursday.

Most of the cases — 31 — are in California, officials at the California Department of Public Health said. Other affected states include Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Affected patients range in age from younger than one year old to 83 years old.

Most of the ill people have been reported from the southwestern United States, or reported travel to this part of the country in the week before they became ill. 

Ten people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported, according to state and federal officials. The source of the outbreak is unknown, but nearly all the sick people who were questioned by health workers reported consuming sushi with raw tuna before they became ill, and most of those specifically said they ate “spicy” tuna, according to the CDC. The tuna in “spicy” tuna is usually ground before serving.

Officials say that the stain of salmonella that’s sickened people is called paratyphi B and considered to be a rare form of the food borne illness.

“At this time, a common brand or supplier of raw tuna has not been identified,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website. California health officials said the strain found in California is similar to one found in a 2010 outbreak, which was later tracked to an overseas factory.

Related: The Simple Way to Dodge Food Poisoning

Illnesses tied to the outbreak occurred between March 5 and May 3, according to the CDC.

In California, it’s the southern portion of the state that’s mainly affected — the LA Times reports that nine patients who fell ill live in Los Angeles County, Six live in Orange County, four in Riverside County, seven in San Diego County, on in Santa Barbara County and four in Ventura County.

Salmonella is a bacteria and the most common source of food poisoning in the U.S. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping and fever. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure.

Health officials said the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems should not eat raw fish or raw shellfish.

“This is a good reminder to Californians that there are sometimes risks when eating raw or undercooked meats, fish or poultry,” Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement.

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