Cantaloupe Recall In Illinois Expands With 6 New Salmonella Cases

A couple of weeks back, we told you about cantaloupes being recalled in Illinois and several other states due to worries about the melons being contaminated with salmonella. A couple of Illinois people were reported to have contracted salmonella, with other states reporting even more, including two deaths.

Since that post went up on November 13th, it's gotten worse, not better.

Luckily, the death count has not expanded beyond the initial reports of two people, but the amount of people sickened and the amount of states affected has gone up, including more people in Illinois getting sick from eating affected cantaloupes.

This All Got Started With The Initial Cantaloupe Recall Due To Salmonella Concerns On November 17th, And Then Expanded Again Late In November After 2 People Died And Nearly 50 Were Hospitalized

Then on November 30th, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the story by pointing out that 117 people in 34 states had gotten sick. That updated report included 18 new reported illnesses and 16 new hospitalizations, while the death count remained at 2 people (both in Minnesota).

Here in the state of Illinois, there have been 6 reported cases of salmonella and no deaths so far. However, health officials believe the number of people who've gotten sick is probably much larger than reported due to the fact that many people choose not to see a doctor when they're feeling ill, so there would be no report of them contracting salmonella.

Obviously, Many People Will Be Skipping The Purchase Of Cantaloupe Until The Investigation Is Complete And The Cantaloupes In Question Are Gone, But What Should You Do In The Meantime?

According to the alert issued by the CDC, kids and some people in care facilities have gotten sick, and that's reason for concern:

CDC is concerned about this outbreak because the illnesses are severe and people in long-term care facilities and childcare centers have gotten sick. Do not eat pre-cut cantaloupes if you don’t know whether Malichita or Rudy brand cantaloupes were used.

Anyone who has recalled fruit products at home should throw them away or return them to the store where they bought them. Make sure you wash any items or surfaces that have come into contact with the fruit using hot, soapy water. A dishwasher will also help get rid of the bacteria.