Salmonella outbreak kills one in Rhode Island

(NECN: Brad Puffer, Providence, R.I.) - One person has died following a salmonella outbreak in Rhode Island.

Health officials in Rhode Island have focused on pastries from DeFusco's Bakery as a likely source of Salmonella that is believed to have sickened thirty-nine people so far and now caused the first death of an 80 year old man. 

Annemarie Beardsworth, RI Department of Health: "We did have a man who died on March 23rd, he did test positive for Salmonella, he had the same type of salmonella that the other people who were ill had."

Health Department spokesperson Annemarie Beardsworth says when inspectors went to the DeFusco's Bakery in Johnston, Rhode Island, they found pastry cream at temperatures far above what it allowed. They also say cooked pastries were likely stored in cardboard boxes that once contained raw eggs. 

"In normal transit, handling, just jostling, an egg could have cracked, seared on the box and then they are putting cooked foods in there."

That bakery has been shut down ever since, cardboard covering many of the windows. The bakery apparently supplied pastries to 19 different establishments. And that includes a nursing home that served zeppole pastries to its residents to celebrate the St Joseph's Day holiday on March 19th - many of whom became ill.

"Take a look at your freezer, some people may have bought baked good and put them in the freezer for another day.  If you have them, through them out.  It is definitely not taking a risk and getting sick."

The public can contact HEALTH's Emergency Information Line for more information at: (401) 222-8022 which will be staffed Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.