With an outbreak of Salmonella Poona tied to imported cucumbers killing 1 and sickening nearly 300, a bit(e) of context might be in order.

Salmonella Poona is not a common serotype isolated in patients.   It seldom makes the “Top Twenty” list of serotypes reported to the CDC.  (See http://www.cdc.gov/nationalsurveillance/salmonella-surveillance.html).

Outbreaks of Salmonella Poona are rare. In recent years (2013 and 2014) outbreaks of Salmonella Poona infections associated with pet turtle exposure have been reported.  The CDC Foodborne Outbreak Online Database (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/foodborneoutbreaks/) lists nine outbreaks of Salmonella Poona linked to consumption of contaminated food between 1998 and 2008. Three outbreaks of Salmonella Poona were linked to consumption of contaminated cantaloupe. One outbreak was linked to consumption of contaminated melon.

Also, see www.outbreakdatabase.com.

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