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...]
Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Has Sickened 121; One Death Reported From California
The multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 HUS infections that is linked to romaine lettuce has grown again. Now 121 people in 25 states have been sickened by this pathogenic bacteria. One person, in California, has died. Fifty two people, or 51% of the patients, have been hospitalized. Fourteen people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Twenty-three more ill persons from 10 states were added since the last update last week. Three more states have been added to the case count: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Utah. Investigators are still searching for the source of lettuce that sickened most of these patients. They identified Harrison Farms in Yuma, Arizona as the source of whole romaine heads that sickened eight people at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Facility in … [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...]
Idaho Hard Hit in E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
Idaho has been hard hit in the multistate E. coli O157:H7 HUS outbreak that the CDC has linked to chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona area. Eight people in that state are ill with this serious infection. Three of those patients have been hospitalized; two have developed a type of kidney failure that sometimes occurs with this infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All of the patients told investigators that they ate romaine lettuce in the 10 days before they got sick. All of the patients are adults between the ages of 20 and 55. No deaths have been reported in this outbreak. While government officials believe that the lettuce came from the Yuma, Arizona growing region, no specific grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified. And no … [Read more...]
Lawyers Investigating Multistate E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just announced that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak they have been investigating is now linked to chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. As of April 12, 2018, 35 people in 11 states are sick with the outbreak strain. Twenty-two of those patients have been hospitalized; three patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No common growers, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified so far, but government officials recommended that anyone, anywhere in the country, who has purchased chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing that green, should throw it away. If you aren't sure where the lettuce came from, get rid of it. Discard it even if some of it has … [Read more...]
CDC Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections
A multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections is being investigated by the CDC, several states, the FDA, and the USDA. This is a continuation of the outbreak that started in New Jersey and was reported on by the New Jersey Department of Health. Earlier this week, the NJDOH reported that seven people were sick with E. coli infections in an outbreak that may be associated with a restaurant chain. Now, at least 17 people in 7 states are sick. Six people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Investigators are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this particular outbreak. DNA fingerprinting has been performed on isolates taken from ill persons using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Lab testing is … [Read more...]
CDC Confirms E. coli Outbreak in CO, ID, and NY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed to Food Poisoning Bulletin that the E. coli outbreak in Washington state that is associated with the Matador restaurant also includes patients in three other states. No additional cases have been identified as of Friday, September 16, 2016. Seven people in Washington state are also infected with the same E. coli strain. Lola S. Russell, Senior Health Communications Specialist for the CDC stated, "CDC is assisting the Washington State Department of Health with an investigation related to an E. coli outbreak potentially linked to a Seattle restaurant. Three cases of E. coli with the same DNA fingerprint in three other states (Colorado, Idaho, and New York) are under investigation to determine if they are linked to the … [Read more...]
Boise Co-op Violates Safety Regulations after Salmonella Outbreak
The Central District Health Department in Boise, Idaho has found three critical violations at the Boise Co-op, which was the site of a large Salmonella outbreak earlier this summer. The inspection was conducted on July 24, 2015. The violations were corrected while the inspector was still at the facility. The violations included meat in the deli's walk-in coolers that are undated or past their expiration date. Temperatures that were too warm were discovered in the deli salad bar. Several salads, including chopped chicken, caprese salad, and pasta with chicken were held at incorrect temperatures. And in the produce department, employees were using a multi-surface cleaner that was not approved for use on food contact surfaces. Ben Kuzma, Boise Co-op general manager said that the violations … [Read more...]
Turkey, Tomatoes, Onions Suspect in Boise Co-op Salmonella Outbreak
Turkey, tomatoes, and onions from the deli at the Boise Co-op in Idaho have tested positive for Salmonella, according to several news reports. The Boise Co-op Facebook page states that lab results confirmed Salmonella was found in several foods from the deli. A notice on the Central District Health Department page states that anyone who thinks they have had Salmonella symptoms following the consumption of food purchased at the Boise Co-op deli after June 1, 2015 and has not sought medical attention should call the CDHD. Please provide contact information in your message. The tests of those who have seen a doctor and tested positive for the bacteria will automatically be forwarded to CDHD. A hotline has been set up to field calls and questions at 208-321-2222. Public health officials … [Read more...]
