23 Minnesotans sickened by salmonella outbreak linked to onions

A multi-state salmonella outbreak that has been linked to contaminated onions has sickened 23 Minnesotans.

The Minnesota Department of Health said Wednesday that the 23 Minnesotans affected range in age from 7 to 77. They all fell ill between Aug. 8 and Sept. 18 and four were hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said as of Wednesday, 652 illnesses and 129 hospitalizations, spanning 37 states, had been linked to the outbreak. No deaths have been reported.

The onions were sold to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the U.S. While ProSource Inc. said the onions were last imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, on Aug. 27, they can last up to three months in storage and could still be in some homes and businesses. Investigators are still working to determine if any other onions or suppliers are linked to the outbreak.

The CDC urges anyone with whole red, white or yellow onions imported from Chihuahua and distributed by ProSource Inc. to throw the onions away.

Anyone who has consumed onions that may have been infected and is experiencing severe salmonella symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately. Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving.
• Bloody diarrhea.
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.
• Signs of dehydration.