Federal officials in Canada have confirmed a sixth death and 153 cases in an ongoing salmonella outbreak linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) released the latest figures, revealing an increase from five deaths and 129 cases reported on December 7.
The outbreak spans eight Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, P.E.I., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Quebec has reported the majority of cases, rising to 103 from 91 in the previous week. The affected individuals, primarily children under six (35%) and adults aged 65 or older (44%), fell ill between mid-October and late November 2023.
Currently, 53 people have been hospitalized, and additional cases under investigation may be confirmed soon. Symptoms of salmonella include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal cramps, appearing up to 72 hours after exposure. Infections typically last four to seven days, with contagiousness persisting for days or weeks, even without symptoms.
PHAC warns against consuming Malichita or Rudy brand cantaloupes and advises disposing of any at home, emphasizing thorough cleaning of storage areas. The agency identifies the consumption of these cantaloupes as the likely source of the outbreak, with three recalls issued for Malichita cantaloupes sold between Oct. 11 and Nov. 14, and Rudy cantaloupes sold between Oct. 10 and Nov. 24. Additional recalls cover food items that may have come into contact with the affected produce.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes, described as the same genetic strain as the Canadian outbreak. As of Friday, the CDC has reported 302 illnesses and four deaths across 42 U.S. states in this outbreak.