The Southwest Utah Public Health Department has issued a news release about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. They say that while they are still investigating this outbreak, they have determined that ground beef is not a likely cause. the advisory not to consume previously purchased ground beef is discontinued. The advisory to not consume raw milk stays in place.
The investigation has been joined by Mohave County Department of Health, Utah Department of Health, and the Arizona Department of Health Services, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are 12 people sickened in this outbreak. Two small children have died. News reports state that seven of the twelve patients have been hospitalized, and four have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Attorney Fred Pritzker said, “If a child or a person with a weakened immune or an elderly person develops HUS, they may not regain normal kidney function and may develop chronic kidney disease, which will progress to end stage renal disease.” Contact him at 1-888-377-8900.
HUS is a serious complication of an E. coli infection that causes kidney damage. HUS is more likely to strike very young children under the age of 5, but adults can develop it too. Some types of E. coli bacteria generate compounds called Shiga toxins. Those toxins travel through the bloodstream and kill and damage red blood cells. Those dead and damaged cells travel to the kidneys and brain. In the kidneys, they clog tiny tubes, which can cause the kidneys to shut down. In the brain, those cells can cause seizures and strokes.
The symptoms of HUS include little or no urine output, lethargy, pale skin, easy bruising, and bleeding from the nose or mouth. Prompt medical attention is necessary for anyone experiencing any of these symptoms.
The symptoms of an E. coli infection include serious and painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody or watery, and a mild fever. The E. coli bacteria attach to the intestinal wall and cause damage, which leads to bloody diarrhea. If you or a loved one have been experiencing these symptoms, please see a doctor as soon as possible. Treatment with antibiotics is contraindicated with this type of illness, since it can increase the chances of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The noted law firm Pritzker Hageman helps people who have been sickened by contaminated food protect their legal rights and get answers, justice, and compensation. Our lawyers help patients and families of children in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against schools, retailers, grocery stores, food processors, restaurants, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won $7.5 million for a young client whose kidneys failed because he developed hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli infection. You should know that class action lawsuits may not be appropriate for outbreak victims because each individual case is different.
