More illness
More New Mexicans report illnesses suspected
from tomatoes

[photo illustration by Daniel Zollinger / Independent]

SANTA FE (AP) — State health and environment officials said Thursday they’re hearing from New Mexicans who suspect their illnesses are caused by salmonella-contaminated tomatoes.

Seventy New Mexicans from 17 counties have reported becoming sick between May 11 and June 5, with the most recent cases under investigation coming from Luna, Bernalillo and McKinley counties, the Department of Health said.

Some patients have reported eating the types of tomatoes that have been implicated in the outbreak — Roma tomatoes and large, round tomatoes. But the agency said others were not sure what kind of tomatoes they ate.

“We are hearing of cases each day of people becoming ill from Salmonella linked to contaminated tomatoes in New Mexico,” Environment Secretary Ron Curry said. “We are working quickly with the Department of Health to identify the source of those tomatoes.”

The Food and Drug Administration still hasn’t pinpointed the source of the outbreak.

Officials recommend that people limit their consumption of tomatoes to those on Food and Drug Administration’s list of safe sources. Curry’s department is working with the FDA to trace the source of the tomatoes.

The Environment Department will issue a mandatory recall of suspect tomatoes once the source of the contaminated tomatoes has been identified.

“We are being diligent in all aspects of our investigation because we want to prevent anyone else from getting sick with salmonella,” said Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil.
The federal government reported Thursday that the toll from salmonella-tainted tomatoes has jumped to 228 illnesses.

Six states that had escaped the outbreak have been added to the list — Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont — bringing the number of affected states to 23.

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On the Net:
FDA: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html