The CDC is  collaborating with public health officials in several states and the FDA to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. Results from this ongoing investigation indicate that bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods, Inc. are the likely source of this outbreak.

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to  identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national  subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories  coordinated by CDC. DNA "fingerprinting" is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill persons using a technique called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE.  PulseNet manages a national database of these DNA fingerprints to identify  possible outbreaks. Two PFGE patterns are included this investigation. Both  PFGE patterns are rarely reported to the PulseNet database. On average, less  than 10 Salmonella bacteria with these  PFGE patterns are reported to PulseNet each year.

As of November 21, 2014, a  total of 63 persons infected with the outbreak strains have been reported from  10 states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New York,  Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The one ill person from Montana  traveled to the Eastern United States during the period when likely exposure  occurred. Illness onset dates range from September 30, 2014 to November 8, 2014. Among 42 persons with available information, 11 (26%) have  been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Read the full report at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-11-14/index.html