More than 650 people sickened in US salmonella outbreak linked to onions

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Over 650 people have been sickened with salmonella across the US in an outbreak linked to onions imported from Mexico, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC counted 652 infections and 129 hospitalizations in data last updated Wednesday. No one has died in the outbreak, which has been detected in 37 states.

The source appears to be fresh whole red, white and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico and distributed by ProSource Inc., said the CDC. The onions were last imported Aug. 27 but can last up to three months in storage, ProSource told the health authority.

The CDC is urging companies to refrain from selling onions imported from Chihuahua and to check storage containers for any onions from the Mexican state and dispose of any found.

People who contract salmonella poisoning typically have diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps with recovery taking up to one week.

Texas and Oklahoma are the states hardest hit by the outbreak with up to 160 cases in each state, according to CDC data.