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Papaya-borne Salmonella Outbreak Hitting Texas

Photo by Prathyush Thomas, Wikimedia
Photo by Prathyush Thomas, Wikimedia
Cross-section of a ripe papaya.

A salmonella outbreak in papayas from Mexico has affected Texas and 20 other states. 

Trade industry website Food Safety News reported that the outbreak traced to whole, fresh papayas from a farm in Southern Mexico has affected 25 percent more victims in the past week.

Nationwide, 173 victims have been identified. Most victims are in New York, where 50 cases of salmonella poisoning have been reported, including one death from the contaminated fruit.

With nine, Texas has the fourth-most cases, behind New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. 

Scott Morgan has been an award-winning journalist since 2001. His work has appeared in several newspapers and magazines as well as online. He has also been an editor, freelancer, speaker, writing teacher, author, and podcaster.