Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, Cucumbers, November 2024

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections.

Epidemiologic and traceback data show that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC. may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick.

Epidemiologic Data

As of November 26, 2024, a total of 68 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 19 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 12, 2024, to November 16, 2024. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.

The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 33 people interviewed, 27 (82%) reported eating cucumbers. This percentage was significantly higher than the 50% of respondents who reported eating cucumbers in the FoodNet Population Survey—a survey that helps estimate how often people eat various foods linked to diarrheal illness. This difference suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating cucumbers.

CDC and states identified six illness sub-clusters at two assisted living facilities, three school districts, and one restaurant. An illness sub-cluster is a group of unrelated people who all ate at the same location or event, such as a restaurant, long-term care facility, or school. Investigating sub-clusters can help identify a food item eaten by all the sick people that could be the source of the outbreak. Cucumbers were served at these six sub-cluster locations.

Laboratory and Traceback Data

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

WGS analysis of 40 people's samples did not predict resistance to any antibiotics. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.

People reported eating cucumbers at different restaurants and sub-cluster locations or buying cucumbers from multiple stores. FDA's traceback investigation identified Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico as a common grower of cucumbers.

Public Health Actions

On November 27, 2024, SunFed Produce LLC. recalled cucumbers. SunFed is also contacting each of its direct buyers to advise them of the recall. CDC advises people not to eat and businesses not to sell or serve recalled cucumbers. FDA continues to work with additional importers that received cucumbers grown by Agrotato S.A. de C.V.