The Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego has updated their investigation into the Marine E. coli outbreak there and at Camp Pendleton. As of November 2, 2017, about 86 recruits have symptoms of an E. coli infection. Of those people, sixteen are hospitalized off-base. The remaining 70 are being cared for aboard the base.
There are nineteen new cases in this particular outbreak, according to the marine Corps Recruit Depot Facebook page. The Marines sickened are at MCRD San Diego and the command’s field training facilities at Edson Range at Camp Pendleton, California. The initial announcement of the outbreak on November 1, 2017 stated that 302 Marines were sick with the symptoms of this type of infection. Of those, 86 are undergoing treatment.
Brig. Gen. William Jurney, commanding general, MCRD San Diego and the Western Recruiting Station said in a statement, “The command is continuing to take precautionary measures and care for those who are affected.”
There is still no word on what officials are investigating for the cause of this outbreak. Past E. coli outbreaks have been linked to contaminated beef, especially ground beef, raw milk, and raw sprouts. This infection can be spread person-to-person.
The symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe and painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea that is usually bloody or watery, and a mild fever. Most people develop symptoms within a few days after ingesting the pathogenic bacteria. Because symptoms are so serious, most do visit a doctor when they contract this infection.
Several of the marines have been diagnosed with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections. This type of infection can cause serious illness, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which can cause kidney failure.
The law firm of Pritzker Hageman helps people sickened by contaminated food and water protect their legal rights and get compensation and justice. Our lawyers represent patients sickened with bacterial infections in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against retailers, food producers, food processors, restaurants, schools, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won $7.5 million for young client whose kidneys failed because of hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli infection. Class action lawsuits may not be appropriate for outbreak victims because the cases are very unique.
