Outbreak of Salmonella serotype Muenchen infections associated with unpasteurized orange juice--United States and Canada, June 1999

Abstract

During June 1999, Public Health-Seattle and King County (PHSKC) and the Washington state health department and the Oregon Health Division independently investigated clusters of diarrheal illness attributed to Salmonella serotype Muenchen infections in each state. Both clusters were associated with a commercially distributed unpasteurized orange juice traced to a single processor, which distributes widely in the United States. As of July 13, 207 confirmed cases associated with this outbreak have been reported by 15 states and two Canadian provinces; an additional 91 cases of S. Muenchen infection reported since June 1 are under investigation. This report summarizes the two state-based investigations and presents preliminary information about the outbreak in the other states and Canada.