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Irish
meat plant linked to Finnish salmonella
cases |
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OUTBREAK: EU on high alert as
119 infected August 15, 2008 Friday Source of Article: http://www.meatpoultry.com/news/newsfinder.asp?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=604&docId=l:837610825&topicId=14427&start=2&topics=single A SALMONELLA
outbreak in Countries across the EU have
been put on high alert after the Nordic country became the third to confirm
cases of Salmonella agona. At least 119 are now believed to
have been infected by the bacteria, which may be caused by contaminated meat products made at a Dawn Farm Foods plant in Naas. The latest details were revealed
last night by the European Centre for Disease Control. Its Eurosurveillance
report shows that 110 cases of the infection with a similar strain of salmonella agona have been
identified to date. That figures is almost certain
to rise to 119 as another nine cases await final analysis. A child as young as three months
is believed to be among the victims, as is a 79-year-old woman. The
investigation found that the average age of those affected was 27. The outbreak is believed to have
claimed the life of a 77-year-old British woman who died from complications
associated with salmonella. The report by public health
experts from As a result a
number ofmeat products including beef
strips, chicken, lamb and pork which were on sale in atleast
eight European countries and to Dawn Farm Foods voluntarily
withdrew the food products after the genetic fingerprint of salmonella agona was linked
to a particular production line at its Naas plant. Health The Food Safety Authority of
Ireland said: "In the interests of public health, the FSAI is advising
that products processed on the same production line as the salmonella-positive products at Dawn Farm Foods (plant
no 734) should not be used." The Eurosurveillance
report said that "a confirmed case in It is understood that this
refers to the Subway sandwich chain, which has assured customers that
products from suspect batches are no longerin their
outlets. Dr Darina
O'Flanagan, director of the Irish Health Protection
Surveillance Centre, said: "This is a serious outbreak with one fatality
already. We want to ensure that the controls that are in place are effective
and that new cases are investigated as quickly as possible to ensure that no
other sources are identified." The report refers to a decision
not to withdraw cooked meat products from the
same production line "on the basis that they are intended for further
cooking before consumption". A Dawn Farm Foods spokesperson
said: "The company will work with FSAI advice, which is that there is no
current need to withdraw this type of product." |
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