Salmonella from a recalled raw tuna product served in sushi and known as Nakaochi scrape has now sickened at least 425 individuals in 28 states and the District of Columbia. Of those ill, 55 have been hospitalized.
In its final outbreak update, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the outbreak appears to be over, though additional cases may surface in the next several months if unaware food establishments continue serving the product, which is sold frozen and has a long shelf-life.
The victims of the tuna scrape outbreak were infected with one of two Salmonella strains. In total, 410 fell ill with Salmonella Bareilly, while Salmonella Nchanga sickened 15.
The recalled Nakaochi scrape was produced by Moon Marine USA Corporation. Retailers carrying the product are asked not to serve it.
The outbreak's epidemiological curve, featured below, shows that a significant number of victims acquired their infections after the April 13 tuna scrape recall, suggesting food establishments continued to serve it for some time.
"It's shocking to see so many illnesses cropping up months after the recall," said food safety attorney Bill Marler, whose firm Marler Clark underwrites Food Safety News.
Since the CDC's last update on June 21, 35 more cases have been counted in the following 12 states:
Alabama (1 illness), California (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (5), New York (4), Pennsylvania (3), South Carolina (1), Texas (1), Virginia (11) and Wisconsin (3).
The total number sickened by state are as follows:
Alabama (5 illnesses), Arkansas (1), California (8), Colorado (1), Connecticut (11), District of Columbia (3), Florida (1), Georgia (22), Illinois (30) Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Louisiana (6), Massachusetts (36), Maryland (40), Missouri (4), Mississippi (2), Nebraska (2), North Carolina (12), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (42), New York (68), Pennsylvania (37), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (5), Tennessee (4), Texas (15), Virginia (34), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (25).
Illness onset dates range from January 1 to July 7, 2012, with victims ranging in age from less than 1 year to 86 years old and a median age of 30. Sixty percent of victims are female.
