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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that 141 people have been infected with salmonella across 21 states from cantaloupe. The outbreak have reported claimed the life of two people and 31 people are hospitalized because of the outbreak. 

According to the CDC, investigations suggest that cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak and retailers and food service operators are urged not to sell or serve cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

 The number of ill people identified in each state is as follows:  Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), Kentucky (50), Michigan (6), Minnesota (3), Missouri (9), Mississippi (2), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (2).

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods eaten before becoming ill. 

Investigations are ongoing to determine if other types of melons may be linked to illness. FDA is continuing to work closely with CDC and state partners during this investigation. CDC will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available.

For more information, visit cdc.gov.