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A nationwide outbreak of food poisoning caused by contaminated fruit has now killed two people and hospitalized dozens.
Health officials warned that the number of salmonella infections linked to melons and pre-cut fruit has doubled in the past week.
A total of 99 people have been infected and 45 hospitalized in 32 states, while two deaths have been recorded in Minnesota.
Affected products include melons from Vinyard, ALDI, Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac, as well as several pre-cut food jars.
A nationwide outbreak of food poisoning caused by contaminated fruit has now killed two people and hospitalized dozens (stock)
They were sold in stores across the country between mid-October and mid-November.
Members of the public are asked to throw away the items or return them for a refund.
People should also wash other fruits and surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated produce.
Customers should see their doctor if they experience diarrhea that lasts more than three days, fever, bloody stools or vomiting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed the new cases in a new health alert issued Friday, but did not provide details about the patients
The agency conducted interviews with sick people and analyzed test samples to confirm that the patients were sick with the same strain as fruit.
The CDC said the actual number of sick people is “likely much higher.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 99 people have been infected and 45 have been hospitalized in 32 states, while two deaths have been recorded in Minnesota.
People with pre-existing medical conditions, weakened immune systems, children under 12 months of age, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to serious illness after being infected with salmonella.
The bacterial infection affects more than 1.3 million people in the US annually, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths per year.
Symptoms of infection usually occur within 12 hours to three days after eating contaminated food and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
In rare cases, a salmonella infection can cause the organism to enter the bloodstream and cause more serious illnesses, such as infections in the arteries, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valve), and arthritis.
The CDC said the contaminated whole melons may have a sticker that reads “Malichita,” “4050” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.”
Some pre-cut versions have a yellow label with ‘Vinyard’ and some have a red label with ‘Fresh’.
ALDI’s melon pieces in clamshell packaging and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging were also affected.
Meanwhile, melon chunks, seasonal mixes, melon mixes and fruit mixes from the Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac brands were sold in clear square or round plastic containers.