The E.coli outbreak linked to spinach and spring mix salad greens sold at Wegmans and other grocery stores is the third multi-state E.coli outbreak linked to salad greens in the last three years, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak, which began in New York, now includes cases in Connecticut, Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
A spinach and spring mix blend sold at Wegmans grocery stores has been identified as one source of the outbreak for victims in New York. However, case patients outside of New York mentioned eating other brands of pre-packaged leafy greens before they became ill so other brands are still being investigated. The number of those ill in each state is as follows: Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), New York (22), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1). Ten people have been hospitalized and two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication developing from some E.coli infections that leads to kidney failure.
Last year, an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce sickened 60 people in 10 states. By state, the number of those sickened was as follows: Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1). The case patients ranged in age from 1 to 94 years, with a median age of 29 years old. About 63 percent were female, 67 percent were hospitalized, and 2 people developed HUS. No deaths have been reported.
In 2010, 28 people in five states were sickened in an E.coli outbreak linked to shredded romaine lettuce. Symptoms of E.coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and diarrhea which can sometimes be bloody. Anyone who has these symptoms should contact a health care provider. HUS, a severe complication of E.coli poisoning, requires hospital care and can be fatal untreated.
