Tests pending in Salmonella outbreak traced to whole hogs

The number of victims in a Salmonella outbreak traced to pork served at a holiday picnic in Seattle is holding steady at 15, and public health officials think it is likely to stay that way.

This photo from the Good Vibe Tribe Luau was posted on the organization’s Facebook page July 3.

However, it was unknown as of Wednesday whether anyone who did not attend the Good Vibe Tribe Luau on July 3 has become ill because of whole roasting hogs from Kapowsin Meats Inc., in Graham, WA.

Kapowsin supplied hogs for the luau and recalled 11,658 pounds of whole hogs July 21, the day after federal officials issued a nationwide health alert.

in 2015, Kapowsin whole roasting hogs were implicated in a five-month, five-state outbreak that sickened 192 people. Thirty people had symptoms so severe they required hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In August 2015, Kapowsin Meats recalled more than 115,000 pounds of whole hogs in connection with the outbreak of Salmonella I 4, [5],12:i:-and Salmonella Infantis.

The current health alert from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was based on laboratory confirmation that patients who ate pork at the luau were infected with Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-.

A spokeswoman for Public Health of Seattle & King County said Wednesday that the department had closed the survey of the attendees of the Good Vibe Tribe and is awaiting final lab reports. Those reports are expected later this week or early next week, she said.

Following is the list of retailers that received the recalled whole roasting hogs from Kapowsin Meats, as reported by USDA:

• Blue Max Meats in Buckley, WA;
• Bob’s Quality Meats in Seattle;
• Butcher Boys Beef Outlet in Puyallup, WA;
• East Asia Supermarket in Tacoma, WA;
• Home Meat Service Inc. in Shelton, WA;
• Lind’s Custom Meats in Kent, WA;
• Select Gourmet Foods in Kenmore, WA, and
• Western Meats Inc. in Tumwater, WA.

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