The toll from latest outbreak of salmonella-spiked sushi has climbed to 316, according to a new government report.
And
that number may be a huge underestimate, since food safety officials
estimate that for every salmonella infection they hear about, 29.3 go
unreported. Using that multiplier, the total number of tuna-sickened
Americans may be closer to 9,575.
The outbreak has been widespread,
with people sickened in 26 states as well as the District of Columbia,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So
far, 304 people have been diagnosed the rare salmonella Bareilly strain,
while another 12 have become ill with salmonella Nchanga, the CDC
reported.
While 37 have been hospitalized, no deaths have been attributed to the tainted tuna thus far, according to the CDC.
The
toll could grow; illnesses that occurred after April 17 might not have
been recorded yet because of the lag between when people get sick and
when they report to health officials.
Agency investigators
determined that the likely culprit was frozen raw yellow fin tuna, known
as Nakaochi Scrape, made by Moon Marine USA Corporation. Government
labs have isolated Salmonella from 96 percent of the samples taken from
intact yellow fin tuna scrape produced by Moon Marine. In April, Moon
Marine recalled 58,828 pounds of the frozen tuna product. It wasn't for
sale to individual customers, but may have been used to make sushi,
sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes in restaurants and grocery stores.
MSNBC