There is one Minnesota patient in Romaine E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak announced last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This patient is part of a fast growing outbreak that climbed from 17 sick on November 19, 2019 to 40 sick on November 22, 2019.
That patient has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection. This complication most often affects children under the age of five. That patient has been hospitalized.
The outbreak has affected 40 people in 16 states. The patient age range is from 3 to 89 years. Illness onset dates range from September 4, 2019 to November 10, 2019, but the notice states that “additional cases are under investigation,” so the outbreak is likely to grow again. In fact, Minnesota is investigating additional STEC infections that may be connected to this outbreak.
Twenty-eight people sickened in this outbreak have been hospitalized. Five people have developed HUS. The person who is sick in Minnesota said they ate romaine lettuce before symptoms began. The investigation to find a specific source is ongoing, but there have been two recalls issued in association with this outbreak. And the CDC is warning Americans not to eat any romaine lettuce that was grown in the Salinas, California growing area.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, “Let’s hope the government can identify exactly where this romaine was grown so this outbreak can be stopped in its tracks.” You can contact Minneapolis lawyer Fred for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
The outbreak was first recognized in Wisconsin after a post on ProMED-mail identified three people with with E. coli infections in that state. The first recall in this outbreak was for Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar salads sold in Maryland after illnesses were identified. All of the patients in Maryland reported eating that product before they got sick.
The second recall is for Missa Bay salads made with meat or poultry. Those salads were sold in these stores: Giant Eagle, Target, Aldi, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, and Domino’s Pizza in Minnesota and other states under various brand names.
If you purchased any of the Missa Bay salad products, don’t eat them. Throw them away or take them back to the place of purchase for a refund. And don’t eat any romaine lettuce from the Salinas area. If you aren’t sure whether or not the romaine you bought or want to eat at a restaurant is from that area, don’t eat it.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include a mild fever, possible vomiting, severe and painful abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that is bloody and watery. Symptoms of HUS include little urine output, pale skin, lethargy, unexplained bruises, and bleeding from the nose or mouth. Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.
