A joint investigation has been launched by the New Mexico Department of Health, the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department and the New Mexico Environment Department into many illnesses caused by Salmonella paratyphi. Six New Mexico residents have been confirmed with the illness caused by Salmonella paratyphi.

The stint is on to determine the source of the outbreak. Of the six affected people, five reported eating sushi containing raw fish. Possible exposures linked to sushi are being investigated by the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department and the New Mexico Environment Department. The investigation is also getting support from federal agencies, including the CDC and other states.

A Salmonella paratyphi outbreak was announced last month by the Ventura County Public Health Department. Southern California has reported 18 cases with one case in Santa Barbara County and four in Ventura County. Seven other cases have come from out of state, most of who traveled to Southern California.

“As of April 17th, 10 out of 10 people who completed detailed food questionnaires stated they had consumed sushi, and over 80 percent reported having eaten raw tuna”, said the Health Department.

It was the first time in March 2015 that a particular strain of Salmonella was witnessed. However, the Health Department said the cause behind a Salmonella outbreak that occurred in California and Hawaii was a closely related strain.

A link was established between raw tuna imported from Indonesia and that outbreak. The Health Department said that the two strains do not seem to have any connection, owing to the genetic distinction of this strain.

Maricopa County health officials said the cause of a Salmonella outbreak could be attributable to raw ground tuna in sushi rolls and other sushi dishes.