CDC confirms more than 100 sickened by Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the link between a nationwide Salmonella outbreak and an Illinois restaurant chain and farm.

According to a CNN report, more than 100 people in 18 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened after eating Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts grown by Tiny Greens Organic Farms, of Urbana, Ill. Most of the people included in the outbreak topped sandwiches they purchased at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches restaurants with the contaminated sprouts.

The restaurant chain removed the sprouts from their menu in late-December, but not until after numerous reports of people getting sick were made public.

Federal health officials say at least one-fourth of all people who got sick after eating the sprouts required hospitalization. The CDC has broken down where the outbreak has impacted: Illinois with 59 cases; Missouri with 22 cases; Indiana has 10 cases; Wisconsin and Pennsylvania each have 3 cases; Massachusetts has 2 cases; and California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia each have 1 confirmed case.

Officials say the outbreak investigation is ongoing. The first reported case was on Nov. 1, 2010, but no indications have been given when the last reported case was confirmed. Victims of the outbreak have ranged in age from 1 to 75.