The Federico’s E. coli outbreak investigation continues as officials try to discover the specific source that has made 74 people sick and hospitalized 23 of them. The outbreak is now the largest E. coli outbreak in the U.S. since 2009 when 77 people were sickened by tainted cookie dough.
Although the case count has grown each week since the outbreak was announced on August 2, all of those sickened ate at the restaurant between July 18 and July 30, according to Maricopa County Department of Public Health spokeswoman Jeanene Fowler. “It is just talking us time to interview every case and figure out if they are tied to this outbreak or not.”
Except for a brief closure to clean and sanitize the facility after the outbreak was discovered, the restaurant has remained open during the investigation. Health officials visited the restaurant on August 9 and on August 16 to collect food and environmental samples and to observe food processes, according to to health department records.
Several of the outbreak patients have filed lawsuits. Some became very ill. At least two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E.coli infections that leads to kidney failure. Other complications from E.coli infections include hemorrhagic colitis, abnormal kidney function, gall stones, disturbances of the central nervous system such as disorientation, delirium, hallucinations, dizziness and tremors; seizures, stroke, heart problems, and coma.
