(July 3, 2008)—The Texas Department of State Health Services now says 18 cases of people infected with salmonella have been confirmed in Central Texas.
The salmonella outbreak, which may be linked to tomatoes or other fresh produce, has sickened 356 people statewide since mid-April.
In Central Texas, seven cases are now confirmed in Bell County, one in Bosque County, two in Brazos County, one in McLennan County and seven in Williamson County.
No deaths have been reported in Texas.
Nationally, the outbreak has sickened about 870 people in 36 states.
More than 100 have been hospitalized.
Tomatoes are still being investigated as the likely cause of the outbreak, but the government said earlier this week it will begin to test other types of fresh produce that may have been served with tomatoes.
The outbreak has continued for weeks longer than food-poisoning experts had expected.
Disease detectives are exploring whether tomatoes and other produce are sharing a common packing or shipping site where both might become contaminated, or whether multiple foods might be tainted while being grown on adjoining farms or with common water sources.
The current recommendation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is to consume only raw red plum raw red Roma or raw red round tomatoes that have been harvested in areas not associated with the outbreak.
Click Here For More Information From The FDA
Texas Counties With Confirmed Cases
(Source: Texas Department of State Health Services)
Angelina (3), Aransas (2), Bee, Bell (7), Bexar (11), Bosque, Bowie (2), Brazoria (2), Brazos (2), Brown, Caldwell (3), Cameron (2), Clay, Coke (2), Collin (3), Comanche, Dallas (17), Denton (4), Duval, Eastland (2), Ector, Ellis (3), El Paso (2), Fort Bend (8), Galveston (3), Hale, Hardin, Harris (45), Hays (8), Hidalgo, Hood, Howard (2), Hutchinson, Jefferson (3), Jim Wells (2), Johnson (3), Jones, Kaufman, Kendall, Kleberg, Lamar, Lubbock (5), McLennan, Montgomery (3), Nacogdoches, Nueces (27), Orange, Palo Pinto (7), Parker (4), Randall, Refugio, San Patricio (4), Smith (2), Swisher, Tarrant (29), Taylor (19), Tom Green (10), Travis (20), Victoria (5), Webb, Wharton, Wichita (22), Williamson (7), unlisted county (26).
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Department Of State Health Services Web Site
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