Health officials in Canada and Washington state are investigating more than 50 cases of salmonella possibly linked to cucumbers.
There has been no recall in either country.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that many of the 45 people from five provinces who have been sick have eaten cucumbers, but not identified a source. The Washington State Department of Health, however, reported that five of the six people involved reported buying and eating English cucumbers from Costco stores in the state.
The department is working with local and federal health agencies to identify the source. The cucumbers were sold in three packs of individually wrapped cucumbers, according to an Oct. 19 news release from the state department.
The last reported illness was Sept. 15. The Food and Drug Administration or any shipper has announced a recall of cucumbers related to the investigation. The cases were in five counties in Washington.
The state health department recommends consumers who bought English cucumbers from Costco between Aug. 18-Sept. 10 to discard them if they still have them.
The health department did not identify the brand or supplier of the cucumbers.
In Canada, the 45 cases came from five provinces, mostly in the western province of British Columbia, which shares a border with Washington. According to media reports, Canadian health agencies have not reported a link to Costco, other retailers or any possible source.
The Canadian illnesses were reported in between mid-June and late September.
