An outbreak of salmonella poisoning in mangoes has sickened 105 people from 16 states in the U.S., in addition to at least 22 people who became ill in Canada, government health officials said Wednesday.

Most of the U.S. victims are in California, where 78 people have been confirmed ill with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup since July 1, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Six people became ill in Washington state, according to health officials there. CDC has not yet identified the numbers of victims in remaining states.

So far, patients range in age from 1 to 86, with a median age of 32. Twenty-five victims have been hospitalized, CDC said. Most became ill from July 3 to Aug. 11, 2012, although infections contracted after Aug. 5 might not yet be reported.   

CDC officials said they have not confirmed a specific source or identified the type of mangoes associated with the outbreak. “Therefore, we do not have specific consumer advice at this time regarding eating mangoes,” the agency said.

Once a specific source is identified, CDC said public health officials will offer advice and take steps to prevent illness.

However, CDC officials did confirm that the genetic fingerprint of the salmonella strain was identical to that found in the recalled mangoes that made people sick in Canada, which were identified as Daniella brand mangoes imported from Mexico.

A U.S. importer of those mangoes, Splendid Products of Burlingame, Calif., has voluntarily recalled nationwide shipments of Daniella mangoes with PLUs #4959, 3114, 4051, 4311 or 4584.  Several U.S. grocery stores have pulled the fruit from their shelves, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. They were sold at retail locations across the U.S. from July 12 to Aug. 29.

Officials in Canada and the U.S. are continuing to work with state and local agencies to investigate the outbreak.

Salmonella poisoning can cause mild illness in otherwise healthy people 12 to 72 hours after infection. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. In some people, usually those with weak immune systems, salmonella can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization.

Related stories:

• Mexican mangoes may have sickened 100
• Salmonella in cantaloupe sickens 141, kills 2

Getty

Mangoes have been implicated in a growing outbreak of salmonella poisoning.

Health officials in the U.S. and Canada are investigating a possible outbreak of salmonella poisoning from mangoes imported from Mexico that may have sickened more than 100 people. 

At least 73 people in California have been infected with a strain of salmonella Braenderup linked to mangoes, said Matt Conens, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health. Of those, about 67 percent reported eating the fruit.

Those cases are in addition to 22 illnesses from the same strain of salmonella confirmed last weekend by officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. And, in late July, six cases of salmonella Braenderup possibly linked to mangoes were reported in residents of Washington state, said Donn Moyer, a health department spokesman. 

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with state officials to determine the cause and scope of the outbreak, said spokeswoman Lola Russell. The genetic fingerprint of the cases in the U.S. is the same as that found in the cases in Canada, "therefore, mangoes are the likely source," she added. 

Neither the CDC nor California health officials have confirmed a recall of contaminated mangoes, or named specific brands. 

"We will update the public when more information becomes available," Russell said.

But Larry Nienkirk, founder of Splendid Products, a distributor in Burlingame, Calif., said his firm has issued a voluntary recall of Daniella brand mangoes imported from Mexico, which are shipped to grocery stores and other retailers nationwide. Nienkirk declined to estimate the volume of mangoes recalled since contamination was detected in mid-July.

"Our thoughts are with anybody who has been affected by this," said Nienkirk, whose firm has specialized in mangoes for 37 years. "We're doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this."

Canadian officials warned consumers last week not to eat the Daniella brand mangoes. 

Canadian officials said the mangoes there were sold as individual fruit, with stickers bearing the PLU #4959. They were sold at retail locations between July 12, 2012 and Aug. 14, 2012. 

Health officials in Washington state and California are continuing to investigate the apparent outbreak. 

Salmonella poisoning can cause fever, headache, vomiting nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In people with weakened immune systems, including children and the elderly, it can cause serious illness and death. 

Related stories:

• FDA IDs farm in salmonella cantaloupe outbreak
• Salmonella in cantaloupes sickens 141, kills 2
• Salmonella by mail? Hatchery sparks 8-year outbreak