Case Count Rises to 132 in the Ongoing Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Kratom

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported updated case counts pertaining to the ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to the opioid substitute, kratom.

Over the years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed its concerns regarding the botanical substance, which was underscored in a public health advisory issued back in November 2017. Since then, they have been channeling efforts into better understanding its safety profile.

Now, with its association with the ongoing Salmonella outbreak, the CDC is warning individuals to not consume any kratom-containing products.

As of April 5, 2018, a total of 132 illnesses have been associated with the outbreak—up 45 since the last numbers were released. According to the CDC, 38 states are now affected by this outbreak, with Connecticut, Iowa, and Idaho added to the list. Furthermore, 40% of individuals have required hospitalization; no associated deaths have been reported at the time of publication.

The CDC’s updated report comes on the heels of the FDA issuing their first-ever mandatory recall for a food product, kratom-containing products that were manufacturered, processed, packed, or held by Triangle Pharmanaturals, LLC. The recall was issued in response to the company’s failure to voluntarily recall their product to protect their customers from potential infection.

However, it is unknown if these products are responsible for the outbreak. “Despite the information collected to date about where ill people purchased kratom, a single common brand or supplier of kratom has not been linked with the outbreak,” the CDC said in their report.

Kratom has been banned in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and several US states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, according to Business Insider. Due to several associated deaths and addiction having been linked with the substance, the Drug Enforcement Administration has placed kratom on the lists of “drugs and chemicals of concern.”

To stay up-to-date on the most recent case counts associated with the ongoing Salmonella Kratom outbreak, be sure to check out the Contagion® Outbreak Monitor.