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A sixth person has died in connection to a recall of cantaloupes contaminated with Salmonella.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada 153 lab confirmed cases have been found as part of an outbreak in all provinces except for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which has resulted in 53 hospitalizations.
A majority of those who became sick were children aged 5 and under (35%) or adults 65 and older (44%), with half of those cases being female.
Infections began cropping up in mid October and spiked at the end of that month and have been on the decline since a recall of the affected brands, Malichita and Rudy, was issued during that time frame.
Illness as a result of exposure to Salmonella bacteria start within 6 to 72 hours and lasts usually between 4 and 7 days.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- chills
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- headache
- abdominal cramps
Those infected are capable of spreading the bacteria to others from several days to several weeks after becoming infected, even if they do not exhibit symptoms.
To prevent illness do not eat, serve, use, sell or distribute cantaloupes under the Malichita or Rudy brand, any products made with those brands of cantaloupe and any recalled produce which may have come in contact with the affected cantaloupes.
As the investigation on this side of the border continues, the Centre for Disease Control in the United states is also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to cantaloupes of the same genetic strain as the illnesses reported in the Canadian outbreak.
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