Botulism Associated with Commercial Cherry Peppers - Oklahoma, Utah, Texas Following the clinical diagnosis of botulism in 4 unrelated persons from 3 states, the respective state health departments, the Food and Drug Administration, and CDC are jointly investigating a brand of cherry peppers which were the only apparent common exposure among the patients. Manufactured by Dreher Pickle Company, Denver, Colorado, the peppers carried the brand name, "CODE Sweet Cherry Peppers," and had 1 of the following identifying numbers: 1-MAR-1977, MAR-197, or MAR-1977D. As a precautionary measure, the company is voluntarily recalling all 1-gallon containers with these 3 identification numbers. Other labels produced on the same day are being investigated. Botulism was clinically diagnosed, but not laboratoryconfirmed, in the 4 patients, whose only apparent common exposure was eating cherry peppers obtained from a salad bar at the Ramada Inn, Elk City, Oklahoma, April 13-15. The inn is located on US 40, a major east-west highway. One ill person from Brownwood, Texas, had visited Elk City on business; another, from Ogden, Utah, had stopped there while traveling across the country. The other 2 persons were Elk City residents. Peppers from the same container may have been served for several days before and after April 13-15. Other undiagnosed cases of botulism may be current. All of the patients are in stable condition. Three of the four were hospitalized, and 1 of these is requiring mechanical respiratory assistance. Reported by M Roberts, A Start, MD, Oklahoma State Dept of Health; T Fukushima, MD, State Epidemiologist, Utah State Div of Health; MS Dickerson, MD, State Epidemiologist, Texas State Dept of Health Resources; Food and Drug Administration; and Enteric Diseases Br, Bacterial Diseases Div, CDC. NA: Not Available. NN: Not Notifiable. *Delayed Reports: Asep. Meng: Texas delete 1; Chickenpox: N. Hamp. 3, Vt. 14, Calif. 65, Guam 12; Enceph.: N. Hamp. 1; Hep. B: Okla. delete 1, Idaho 3; Hep. A: Idaho 3 (1975), 5 (1976), N. Mex. 8; Hep. Unsp.: Idaho 4 (1975), 21 (1976), N. Mex. 8 Guam Puerto Rico *Delayed Reports: Measles: Texas delete 2, Guam 1; Mening. Inf.: Texas delete 1; Mumps: N. Mex. 1, Guam 1; Rubella: Texas 1, N. Mex. 24 Puerto Rico 7537 12 *Delayed Reports: TB: Mich. delete 2, N. Mex. 5, Guam 2; GC: La. delete 2, N. Mex. 142, Guam 13; Syphilis: Ark. delete 1; An. Rabies: N. J. 2 151 177 73 72 28 2 247 11 *By place of occurrence and week of filing certificate. Excludes fetal deaths. †Delayed Report for Week Ending 4/24/76 (For NYC) The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, circulation 52,000, is published by the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia. The data in this report are provisional, based on weekly telegraphs to CDC by state health departments. The reporting week concludes at close of business on Friday; compiled data on a national basis are officially released to the public on the suc ceeding Friday. The editor welcomes accounts of interesting cases, outbreaks, environmental hazards, or other public health problems of current interest to health officials. Send reports to: Center for Disease Control, Attn.: Editor, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Send mailing list additions, deletions, and address changes to: Center for Disease Control, Attn.: Distribution Services, GSO, 1-SB-36, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. When requesting changes be sure to give your former address, including zip code and mailing list code number, or send an old address label. |