TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health has reported 66 illnesses in a Salmonella outbreak connected to Hospital CIMA in Escazú. Two cases have been confirmed by laboratory testing, and two people have been hospitalized; officials have not identified a source or confirmed how the infection spread.
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health has reported 66 cases in a Salmonella outbreak connected to Hospital CIMA in Escazú, with two cases confirmed by laboratory testing and two patients hospitalized. The source of contamination and the route of transmission have not been established, and the U.S. Embassy has advised its personnel to consider seeking medical care elsewhere until the outbreak is resolved.
The Health Ministry is investigating whether those who became ill shared any common exposure and how the infection may have spread. Food Safety News reported that illnesses have been described among hospital workers, but the available information does not specify how many affected people are employees, patients or visitors. No particular food has been identified as the source.
The U.S. Embassy’s alert listed diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and general malaise among reported symptoms. The ministry’s reported total is 66 cases; laboratory testing confirmed Salmonella in two of them. Two patients were hospitalized. The report did not provide information about their current condition or the timing of their illnesses.
The embassy advised its personnel to consider alternative locations for medical care while the outbreak remains unresolved. Its food-safety advice included washing hands with soap and water, separating raw and cooked foods, thoroughly cooking eggs, poultry and meat, and promptly refrigerating perishable items. It also advised washing produce, avoiding unpasteurized dairy and keeping people with gastrointestinal symptoms from preparing food for others while ill.
Health Risks Inside a Hospital
An outbreak connected to a hospital can affect people who are already seeking medical care as well as staff working in the facility. The reported illnesses among hospital workers point to a possible workplace impact, although the available report does not establish how people were exposed or whether transmission occurred inside the hospital.
The difference between 66 reported cases and two laboratory-confirmed cases matters: the total records the outbreak investigation’s case count, while laboratory results confirmed Salmonella in two cases. That distinction does not identify the source. Until investigators determine whether the cases share a food, location or other exposure, the scope of any required control measures remains uncertain.
The U.S. Embassy’s advice to consider care elsewhere is directed at its personnel; it is not a reported order closing Hospital CIMA or a general instruction from Costa Rica’s health authorities. The alert nevertheless signals that the incident has prompted precautions beyond the hospital while investigators work to clarify the risk.
Products Worth Considering
Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker – Brushed Stainless Steel
KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor, KFP1318, Contour Silver
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel (BES450BSS)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Investigation and a Recent Regional Outbreak
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health is seeking to identify shared exposures and the mode of transmission. The available report does not say when the first illness began, whether new cases are still being reported, or what specific investigative steps have been completed. It also does not name a suspected meal, supplier or hospital service.
In early September, health officials in Mexico reported a separate Salmonella outbreak at Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga. They confirmed 135 illnesses and linked that outbreak to food supplied by an outsourced catering service, according to the Food Safety News report. The hospital suspended the catering service and began an investigation. That earlier event provides regional context, but there is no reported evidence connecting it to the cases in Costa Rica.
“The embassy advised its personnel to consider alternative locations for medical care until the outbreak has been resolved.”
— U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica
Source and Spread Remain Unknown
Officials have not identified a specific contaminated food or confirmed a source of contamination. The route of transmission is also unknown, and investigators are still looking for exposures shared by those who became ill. The available report does not say whether the suspected exposure was food-related, whether illnesses came from a single event, or whether person-to-person spread played any role.
Other details remain unreported, including when the outbreak began, whether cases are continuing, how many affected people are patients or staff, and the condition of the two hospitalized patients. The report also provides no findings from environmental testing or details of any corrective measures at Hospital CIMA.
The Ministry of Health’s investigation is focused on identifying common exposures and determining how Salmonella spread. Further information about a possible source, additional laboratory results, case counts or control measures could clarify the outbreak’s extent. The current report does not give a timetable for those findings or say when the investigation will be considered resolved.
Until more is known, the embassy’s alert recommends basic food and hand hygiene and advises its personnel to consider alternative medical-care locations. Anyone experiencing gastrointestinal illness should avoid preparing food for others while symptomatic and seek appropriate medical advice.
Key Questions
How many Salmonella cases have been reported in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health reported 66 cases linked to Hospital CIMA. Two were confirmed by laboratory testing, and two patients were hospitalized.
Has the source of the outbreak been identified?
No. Officials are investigating possible shared exposures and the route of transmission. The report says no specific food has been identified.
What symptoms were reported?
The U.S. Embassy alert listed diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and general malaise.
Is the Costa Rica outbreak connected to the hospital outbreak in Mexico?
No connection has been reported. The Mexico outbreak was a separate event in September; officials there linked it to food from an outsourced catering service. The available information does not link it to Hospital CIMA.
What precautions have been advised?
The embassy recommended handwashing with soap and water, separating raw and cooked foods, thoroughly cooking eggs, meat and poultry, refrigerating perishable foods promptly, washing produce and avoiding unpasteurized dairy. People with gastrointestinal illness should not prepare food for others while symptomatic.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
