Rare Salmonella Strain Linked to Raw Fish
A relatively rare strain of Salmonella has been linked to the consumption of raw fish and raw ahi on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. About 30 cases have been confirmed since October and a few other cases were reported on the mainland U.S.
The strain of Salmonella responsible is known as Paratyphi B. Dr. Paul Effler, a state epidemiologist, states that the rarity of the strain “doesn’t necessarily mean it’s serious. It’s just more uncommon.” According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin,
Hawaii has about 300 cases of salmonella food poisoning from various strains every year, Okubo (Janice Okubo, state Health Department spokeswoman) said. There were 330 last year and 265 in 2006. Usually, only about 10 cases of Paratyphi B occur annually, she said.
Five people in Hawaii were hospitalized and have all since recovered. Genetic fingerprinting of the strain also connected the cases in Hawaii with two cases in Colorado and a case in California, all of which were related to eating raw fish.