MDH, MDA Confirm Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli, Salmonella Cases Linked to Alfalfa Sprouts
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials are warning Minnesota consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands due to a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella infections.
Twenty-three Minnesotans became ill between July 8 and Aug. 8 with Salmonella and/or various strains of STEC). Two people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. In addition to the Minnesota cases, Wisconsin investigators have identified 18 cases, with additional illnesses identified in other states. The number of illnesses will likely increase as the investigation progresses.
The illnesses have been linked to eating alfalfa sprouts produced by Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota grower, and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands to restaurants and grocery stores. Health officials recommend people check for alfalfa sprouts from Calco or Everything Sprouts, not eat them, and throw them away. MDH and MDA are working with health officials from Wisconsin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other states to identify the source and scope of contamination.
Symptoms of illness caused by STEC typically include stomach cramps and diarrhea, often with bloody stools, but only a low-grade or no fever. People typically become ill two to five days after exposure, but this period can range from one to eight days. Most people recover in five to seven days. However, STEC infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that involves acute kidney failure and other severe problems.
Diarrhea associated with STEC infections generally should not be treated with antibiotics, as this can promote the development of HUS. Anyone who believes they may have developed an STEC infection should contact their healthcare provider.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 96 hours after exposure, but they can begin up to two weeks after exposure. Infections usually clear in five to seven days, but about 28% of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization.
Many Salmonella infections in otherwise healthy people do not require medical treatment. More serious infections occasionally occur. For those who seek medical care, most do not require antibiotics. However, antibiotic treatment may be needed in some cases. If you’ve consumed the implicated product, become ill and are concerned about your health, consult your healthcare provider.
Approximately 1,000 Salmonella infections and 85 STEC infections with the serogroups associated with this outbreak are reported each year in Minnesota. More information on Salmonella and STEC can be found on the MDH website.
Public Input Wanted as Clearwater County Updates Hazard Mitigation Plan
Clearwater County residents, community leaders, business owners, area agencies and organizations now have an opportunity to share how severe weather events impact their property and lives. There is also an opportunity to share their ideas on how to reduce local impacts in the future.
The Clearwater County Office of Emergency Management is working with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth to update the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The plan assesses the natural hazards that pose risk to the county, such as flooding, tornadoes, windstorms, winter storms, extreme temperatures, wildfire, and drought. The plan further identifies local vulnerabilities and ways to minimize damage from future events. As the county works to update the plan, it wants to hear from the public.
The Clearwater County HMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that covers Clearwater County, including all cities and townships within the county. The Clearwater County HMP also incorporates the concerns and needs of school districts, watershed districts, and other related agencies, organizations, or businesses participating in the planning process. The plan will be updated by a planning team made up of representatives from county departments, local municipalities, and other key stakeholders. When completed, the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval.
Examples of hazard mitigation include:
- Conducting public outreach on severe weather awareness and preparedness
- Improving stormwater management systems to better handle high-rain events
- Removing existing buildings from flood or erosion prone hazard areas
- Increasing defensible space around homes in high-risk wildfire areas
- Constructing tornado safe rooms in vulnerable areas such as mobile home parks
- Burying overhead powerlines that may fail due to heavy snow, ice, or windstorms
Some mitigation activities may be eligible for future FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding.
As part of the planning process, gathering input from the public is an important and required step. Residents of cities and townships, local businesses, and other stakeholders are encouraged to share feedback on the following to incorporate into the plan:
- What are the natural hazards you feel pose the greatest risk to your community?
- Are there specific populations or assets in your community that you feel are more vulnerable to future storm events?
- What concerns do you have, and what sorts of actions do you feel would help to reduce damages of future hazard events in your community or the county as a whole?
To provide your feedback, please contact Clearwater County Emergency Management or submit your comments via the online HMP public feedback form.
There will be additional opportunities for public feedback throughout the planning process. A draft of the plan will be made available for public review prior to submission of the plan to the State of Minnesota. Future news releases will be shared with the media to notify the public of these opportunities.
The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires counties to update their plan every 5 years to maintain eligibility for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.
For more information, contact Logan LeClair, Clearwater County Emergency Management Director at (218) 694-6618 or logan.leclair@co.clearwater.mn.us.