Deadly Salmonella Outbreak: Cantaloupes Linked to Multiple Deaths and Illnesses

A salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupes has sickened hundreds of people in the U.S. and Canada, resulting in at least 10 deaths. Health officials are urging consumers, retailers, and restaurants to avoid purchasing or serving cantaloupes if the source is unknown, particularly for high-risk groups such as young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The outbreak has affected over 300 people in the U.S. and 150 in Canada, with recalls of whole and cut fruit being issued. The implicated cantaloupes were imported from Mexico, and contamination can occur due to poor hygiene practices, pests, and equipment sanitation. Food safety experts recommend thorough cleaning and drying of cantaloupes, and high-risk individuals may consider avoiding cantaloupes, especially during an outbreak.