Aromatherapy spray imported from India and sold at Walmart in connection with American deaths
U.S. health officials may have solved the mystery of how four people in different states were affected by a serious tropical disease even though no one had traveled internationally: an aromatherapy spray imported from India.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that investigators found the same type of bacteria that causes the disease, melioidosis, in a spray bottle found in one of the patients’ homes.
The four people were from Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas. Two of them, one a child in Georgia, died.
The agency said it tested to confirm that the bacteria in the bottle are the same strain as the one seen in the four patients. It said earlier laboratory analyzes showed that all four infections were closely related.
The spray found in the patient’s home in Georgia was manufactured in India. The genetic profile of the bacteria in the bottle is similar to that of strains commonly found in South Asia, the agency said.
The contaminated product is labeled “Better Homes & Gardens Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstone,” CDC said. It sold for $ 4 at 55 Walmart stores and on the Walmart website from February through Thursday.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Walmart issued a recall Friday for 3,900 bottles of spray in six fragrances. Officials are investigating whether other odors and brands may pose a risk.
Walmart issued a statement Friday, saying the company was taking immediate action when federal agencies told the retailer about their findings.
Melioidosis is a rarity in the United States, with about 12 cases reported annually. People can get it by direct contact with contaminated soil and water. The CDC said the infection can be treated if caught early and treated properly.
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