Salmonella Outbreak Possibly Linked to Tuna Sushi

Rare strain of salmonella sickens 53 people in nine states.

ByABC News
May 22, 2015, 2:22 PM
Salmonella cases have been linked to tuna sushi, according to the CDC.
Salmonella cases have been linked to tuna sushi, according to the CDC.
Corbis

— -- More than 50 people in nine states have been sickened with salmonella, and investigators suspect raw tuna in sushi is to blame, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC is reporting that 53 people have been sickened -- including a child younger than 1 year old -- with a strain of salmonella called paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+). No one has died, and 10 people have been hospitalized. Of the 36 people interviewed, 34 reported eating raw tuna in sushi, according to the CDC.

"The investigation has not conclusively identified the source of this outbreak, but most ill people interviewed reported eating sushi made with raw tuna in the week before becoming ill," the CDC announced. "The investigation is ongoing and has not identified a common brand or supplier of raw tuna linked to illnesses."

Symptoms usually take between 12 and 72 hours to appear and include cramps diarrhea and fever, according to the CDC. Children under 5, over 65 or with compromised immune systems are most at risk and should avoid raw seafood regardless of whether there's an ongoing outbreak, it said.

Cases have been reported in Arizona, California, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.