77 People Stricken with Salmonella After Eating Caito Melons

 Posted on August 08, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

In early summer 2018, a Salmonella outbreak caused 77 people in nine states to become ill. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the outbreak to pre-cut melons distributed by Caito Foods, LLC of Indianapolis, Indiana. The melons were purchased in packages of pre-cut watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and fruit medley packages supplied to grocery stores in Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

When an individual suffers from food poisoning because of another party's negligence, the victim is entitled to pursue compensation for his or her damages through a food poisoning claim. Caito Foods, LLC recalled all packages that could have potentially contained the contaminated melons.

Who Suffered from Salmonellosis?

Of the 77 recorded illnesses, the CDC has data on 70 individual victims. These victims ranged in age from 1 to 97 years old, with a median age of 67. 67% of the victims were female, and 50 percent of the victims were hospitalized for their salmonellosis symptoms. No deaths were reported in conjunction with this outbreak.

Generally, salmonellosis symptoms resolve themselves within a few days. Young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are most at risk of suffering from severe symptoms and complications, and the age range of the victims in this outbreak could shed some light on why about half of them needed to be hospitalized.

Treating Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis can only be diagnosed when a laboratory test confirms the presence of Salmonella bacteria in the victim's stool sample. Although salmonellosis typically resolves itself in individuals with healthy immune systems, some victims need antibiotics to recover from the infection.

One issue that arises with salmonellosis victims is dehydration. Individuals who suffer from vomiting and diarrhea are advised to keep themselves sufficiently hydrated to protect themselves from suffering from dehydration. When dehydration is severe, a victim can need IV fluid replacement.

Recovering Compensation for Food Poisoning Damages

When salmonellosis keeps a victim out of work or causes him or her to rack up large medical bills, he or she can pursue compensation for these damages through a personal injury claim. The victim can also pursue compensation for pain and suffering damages for his or her reduced quality of life due to the condition.

The party whose negligence caused the illness is liable for the victim's damages. In a case like the Caito Foods outbreak, this may be the manufacturer, distributor, or even a grocery store that kept the melons on shelves after they were recalled.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Food Poisoning Lawyer

When an individual suffers food poisoning-related damages due to another party's negligence, he or she is entitled to pursue monetary compensation for those damages through a personal injury claim. If you are in this position, contact our team of experienced food poisoning attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP today to set up your initial legal consultation in our office. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Chris Ralston)