E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker is representing people sickened in the deadly E. coli O157:H7 (STEC) HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. We asked him about the outbreak. "With almost 200 people sickened across the country, this is the largest E. coli outbreak of 2018," says attorney Pritzker. Eighty-nine people sickened in the outbreak have been hospitalized. "The CDC is reporting 26 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, referred to as HUS, associated with this outbreak. HUS damages the kidneys and often causes renal failure," says Pritzker. "The pain and suffering associated with these cases is off the charts." Five people have died, and Pritzker says these families should contact an E. coli lawyer about a wrongful death lawsuit. The … [Read more...]
Patients Diagnosed with HUS in the E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Live in CA, ID, MN, and PA
In the deadly E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, 17 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. That potentially deadly complication can occur in about 5 to 10% of patients in every Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak. But in this outbreak, which has sickened 149 people in 29 states and has hosptialized 54, the HUS rate is 13% which is quite high. This could be because there are children, who are more likely to develop HUS than adults, among the patients. Where do those HUS patients live? We contacted the health departments of the states involved in this outbreak and asked. The California Department of Public Health stated that as of May 9, 2018, there are 30 people sickened in this outbreak in … [Read more...]
Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho Hardest Hit by E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce; Some May Sue
The E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that is linked to romaine lettuce is the largest of its kind since 2006. As of May 8, 2018, 149 people living in 29 states are sick. Sixty-four people have been hospitalized, and seventeen have developed HUS. One person, who lived in California, has died. The states that are hardest hit are Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. Most patients ate chopped romaine lettuce before their illnesses began. In Minnesota, 10 people are sick. California has the largest number of case patients, with 30 ill. In Pennsylvania, 20 people are sick. And in Idaho, there are 11 people with this infection. Public health officials have still not figured out exactly which farm or farms the lettuce came from. One, Harrison Farms in Yuma, Arizona, grew some of … [Read more...]
About 100 Norovirus Cases in California From Raw British Columbia Oysters
About 100 people are sick in a norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from south and central Baynes Sound in British Columbia, Canada as of April 27, 2018. The California Department of Pubic Health (CDPH) is warning consumers to avoid that shellfish. Those sickened ate the oysters at restaurants and purchased them at retailers throughout the state. There are ill persons in California and in Canada. Canada has reported 172 sick in this outbreak. Laboratory testing has confirmed these illnesses. The number of new patients decreased this week, but the investigation is ongoing. Four oysters farms in the south and central Baynes Sound area of British Columbia are linked to the outbreak. Those farms were closed between March 23 and April 13, 2018, and remain closed at this time. All … [Read more...]
California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania Hard Hit by E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce
The E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has sickened 84 people in 19 states. Forty-two of those patients have been hospitalized, and nine people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure. But three states have borne the brunt of that outbreak. California has 13 patients, Idaho has 10, and Pennsylvania has 18. We don't know why those states have more patients in this outbreak than others. Federal and state officials are trying to pinpoint the retailers, restaurants, and distributors who sold the lettuce that has sickened people, but they are having a difficult time. All officials have been able to tell us is to avoid eating any type of romaine lettuce form the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Traceback investigations have been able … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grows to 84 Sick
The multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has now grown to include 84 sick in 19 states. Thirty-one more people from 10 states have been added since the last update a week ago. Three more states have reported ill persons: Colorado, Georgia, and South Dakota. The most recent illness started on April 12, 2018. This outbreak will likely grow, since it takes a few weeks from the time a person begins feeling sick, to when the infection is diagnosed and reported to government officials. The information still indicates that romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region is the source of this outbreak. But investigators still have not identified a common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand of romaine. Of the eighty-four people sick, 42 people … [Read more...]
Trichinellosis Outbreak in California Was Linked to Consumption of Privately Raised Raw Boar Meat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a study about a trichinellosis outbreak in California last year that was linked to consumption of privately raised raw boar meat. The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the week of March 2, 2018. In January 2017, 12 cases of trichinellosis were reported among people who attended an event in December 2017. Larb, a traditional Loatian raw pork dish, was served. The pork came from a domesticated wild boar which was raised and slaughtered on private farm in Northern California. Leftover samples of the food revealed Trichinella spiralis. Nine of those patients were hospitalized with sepsis. Seven had acute kidney injury. Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection. It used to be linked to … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Coconut Tree Shredded Frozen Coconut Ends
The Salmonella outbreak that is linked to recalled Coconut Tree shredded frozen coconut is over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 27 people were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:b:- or Salmonella Newport in nine states. Six people were hospitalized in this outbreak. No deaths were reported. All epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence found that Coconut Tree brand frozen shredded coconut, which was distributed by Evershing Trading Company, was the likely source of this Salmonella outbreak. Public health officials used the PulseNet system to identify people who were part of this outbreak. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were used to identify the DNA of the … [Read more...]
California Hard Hit in Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Frozen Coconut
California has been hard hit in the Salmonella outbreak that is linked to recalled Evershing frozen shredded coconut. As of January 17, 2018, nine people are sick in that state, according to the CDC. This outbreak had an unusual start. Officials at the Massachusetts Department of Health were notified about at least one person who was sick with an unusual strain of Salmonella bacteria in November 2017. One of the patients ate an "Asian-style dessert drink" at a restaurant. We don't know what the actual drink was; it could have been a smoothie, a cocktail, or blended ice cream. The drink was made with frozen shredded coconut. Early testing identified Salmonella Newport bacteria, which was related to an isolate taken from an ill person in Massachusetts. Public health officials … [Read more...]
Health Canada Says E. coli O157 Outbreak In That Country Linked to Romaine Lettuce Over
Health Canada says that the E. coli O157 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce in that country is over. At least 42 people in 5 provinces were sickened in this outbreak. As of January 10, 2018, there were 42 cases of illness in this E. coli O157 outbreak that were reported in five eastern provinces: Ontario (8), Quebec (15), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). Individuals became sick in November and early December 2017. Seventeen individuals were hospitalized because their illnesses were so severe. One person died in this E. coli O157 outbreak. Patients were between the ages of 3 and 85 years of age. The majority of cases (74%) were female. Most of those who were sickened said they ate romaine lettuce the week before they got sick. Patients ate … [Read more...]
