Although the 2011 cantaloupe outbreak that sickened 146 and killed 30 (with an additional two dying over the last months) and one miscarriage was the first known Listeria outbreak associated with cantaloupe, cantaloupe outbreaks are by no means a new phenomenon. Since 1985, in fact, there have been no less than 15 recognized outbreaks (thanks to www.outbreakdatabase.com) in the US involving cantaloupes, grown domestically and internationally:
|
No. |
Year |
State(s) |
Confirmed Illnesses |
Pathogen |
Description |
|
1 |
1985 |
Wisconsin |
16 |
Campylobacter |
Melon or Cantaloupe. |
|
2 |
1990 |
30 States |
245 |
Salmonella |
Cut cantaloupe at salad bars. |
|
3 |
1991 |
International, including U.S. |
400 |
Salmonella |
Likely Mexican cantaloupe. |
|
4 |
1997 |
California |
24 |
Salmonella |
Mexican cantaloupe. |
|
5 |
1998 |
Ontario, Canada |
22 |
Salmonella |
Cantaloupe. |
|
6 |
1999 |
Iowa |
61 |
Norovirus |
Restaurant, cantaloupe or melon. |
|
7 |
2000 |
California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Nevada |
47 |
Salmonella |
Mexican cantaloupe. |
|
8 |
2001 |
Multi-state and International |
50 |
Salmonella |
Viva Brand cantaloupe. |
|
9 |
2002 |
California, Minnesota, Oregon, Arkansas, Vermont, Nevada, Texas |
58 |
Salmonella |
Susie Brand cantaloupe. |
|
10 |
2003 |
New York, Ohio, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Missouri |
58 |
Salmonella |
Day care center and private homes, cantaloupe/honeydew melon. |
|
11 |
2006 |
Multi-State and International |
41 |
Salmonella |
Cantaloupe cut at processing facility in Canada. |
|
12 |
2007 |
California |
11 |
Salmonella |
Private home. |
|
13 |
2008 |
Multi-State |
53 |
Salmonella |
Agropecuraria Mobtelibano cantaloupe, from Honduras. |
|
14 |
2008 |
California |
23 |
Norovirus |
Restaurant, melon and cantaloupe. |
|
15 |
2011 |
Multi-State |
20 |
Salmonella |
Del Monte cantaloupe. |