title: Outbreaks associated with cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew in the United States, 1973-2011.
abstract: Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Melons have been associated with enteric infections. We reviewed outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System during 1973-2011 in which the implicated food was a single melon type. We also reviewed published literature and records obtained from investigating agencies. During 1973-2011, 34 outbreaks caused by a single melon type were reported, resulting in 3602 illnesses, 322 hospitalizations, 46 deaths, and 3 fetal losses. Cantaloupes accounted for 19 outbreaks (56%), followed by watermelons (13, 38%) and honeydew (2, 6%). Melon-associated outbreaks increased from 0.5 outbreaks per year during 1973-1991 to 1.3 during 1992-2011. Salmonella was the most common etiology reported (19, 56%), followed by norovirus (5, 15%). Among 13 outbreaks with information available, melons imported from Mexico and Central America were implicated in 9 outbreaks (69%) and domestically grown melons were implicated in 4 outbreaks (31%). The point of contamination was known for 20 outbreaks; contamination occurred most commonly during growth, harvesting, processing, or packaging (13, 65%). Preventive measures focused on reducing bacterial contamination of melons both domestically and internationally could decrease the number and severity of melon-associated outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahovic
authors.forename: L Hannah
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005506:Food Contamination; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012475:Salmonella; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology