Papaya Poisoning Claims More Victims With New York Hardest Hit, New Figures Show

NEW YORK CITY, NY – A deadly salmonella outbreak linked to papayas has sickened more people in New York than anywhere else in the country and the numbers of people falling ill continue to grow, new figures show. The only fatality was recorded in New York City.

As of August 3, 109 people have been infected by the outbreak in the U.S., according to information released by the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention. Of them, 36 were in New York State. Though the CDC confirmed that the one person who died was in New York City, it was unable to give more specific locations for the other people sickened.

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According to the FDA, Caribeña brand Maradol papayas from Mexico that were distributed by Grande Produce in San Juan, Texas, have been linked to the illnesses. The FDA says that the distribution pattern of these particular papayas does not explain all of the illnesses, meaning other firms likely have distributed the contaminated papayas. All the farms producing the papayas appear to be in Mexico.

Illnesses were first reported on May 21. Since July 21, 64 new cases were reported, the CDC said.

The CDC said the investigation is ongoing and recommends that people not eat, and restaurants not serve, Maradol papayas from Mexico.

Image via CDC