Nine salmonella cases in Kentucky, including one in Meade, may be linked to peanut butter By SANDRA STONE The Kentucky Department of Public Health (DPH) has identified nine cases of salmonella in Kentuckians from September through January related to the multi-state outbreak announced Feb. 14 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of Kentucky’s cases occurred in a Meade County adult within the last two or three months. Other cases were reported in the following counties: Calloway (2), Jefferson (2), Kenton (1), Greenup (1), Marshall (1) and Warren (1). Those affected ranged in age from children to senior citizens. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to the risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (the bacterium identified in the outbreak). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number 2111. Kentuckians who have Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter with this code purchased since May 2006 should discard it. “We have identified several cases of salmonella illness occurring over a number of months across the state that fit the pattern for this multi-state outbreak,” said William D. Hacker, M.D., commissioner of public health and undersecretary for health at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. “We advise people not to consume any peanut butter that matches the product code specified in the warning by the federal Food and Drug Administration. If Kentuckians have eaten peanut butter suspected to be at risk and experience the symptoms of Salmonella, we urge them to see a doctor.” Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In people with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Those who have recently eaten Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with the product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities by health providers, and affected individuals should save peanut butter products for testing by the state public health laboratory. FDA’s warning was based on a recently completed epidemiological study by the CDC, the states and local health agencies, which links 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states to consumption of varying types of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. “Our job is to do investigation and health education,” said Kris Paul, clinical director of the Meade County Health Department. The salmonella case in Meade County appears to be isolated, but proper investigation and reporting procedures were followed. Once the lab makes a positive identification on a particular communicable disease, according to Paul, the patient is called and asked a battery of questions to determine where the disease may have been contracted and who the individual has been in contact with. This helps determine if the case is part of a trend or an isolated incident. “Isolated cases come up. In any year, we might get an isolated case of salmonella. If we don’t link it, we just report it as an isolated case,” said Paul. “When you have a cluster in a county, that’s when you start to look at trends.” Paul is looking at this as an educational opportunity as well. Most foodborne illnesses, she said, are contracted in the home, and many can be prevented. Proper food handling such as cooking food to the correct temperature and using separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables are key to preventing foodborne illnesses. And wash your hands. “Good hand washing,” said Paul, “is the most effective way to prevent foodborne illnesses.” Sources: Kentucky Department of Public Health and Meade County Health Department.
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