The number of salmonella infections linked to cucumbers continues to soar with a U.S. health agency reporting 558 cases on Tuesday, a figure that’s 140 more than just a week prior.
Three people — in Arizona, California and Texas — have died in the ongoing outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And some 112 of those sickened have needed to be hospitalized.
Of the ill, more than half are children younger than 18.
The additional 140 cases come from 24 states, from a high of 31 in California and one each in Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and New York.
California also has the most cases overall of any state, followed by Arizona, Utah, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The growing number of cases comes despite efforts to recall cucumbers tied to the outbreak that’s already touched 33 states. This includes a September 4 recall by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce involving cucumbers imported from Mexico sold under its “Limited Edition” brand between August 1 and September 3, the CDC reports.
In a statement, the San Diego-based company has said it “has been cooperating with the government agencies” and “every effort has been taken to remove this product from the market.”
A week later, Custom Produce Sales issued its own recall of items it had gotten from Andrew and Williamson and sold under its own Fat Boy label.
The recalled products were distributed in 24 states in the West, Plains, Midwest and South spanning from Alaska to California to Florida to New Jersey.
Salmonella poona causes the same symptoms as the regular subtype of the ailment, including nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.
