Salmonella Burgers - Round 2 - Second Outbreak

August 3, 2009

GROUND BEEF WARNING: Colorado state health officials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and several other state health departments are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that are resistant to several commonly used antibiotics. Experts from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Friday urged Coloradans to avoid ground beef or to cook it carefully to prevent foodborne illness. To date, cases of illness have been identified in nine states. The majority of cases have been reported in Colorado. Preliminary evidence from the multi-state investigation strongly suggests that ground beef is the source of the outbreak, although further investigation is ongoing. Twenty-one illnesses have been reported in Colorado in the following counties: Arapahoe (three), Broomfield (three), Denver (three), Douglas (one), Elbert (one), Garfield (one), Jefferson (four), Mesa (one), Pueblo (one) and Weld (three). For more information about food safety, call the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division at 303-692-3620.