An E. coli Outbreak in the Midst of the Coronavirus Outbreak – Putting it Into Perspective
Covid – 19 is one of a larger family of Corona viruses, many of which have been previously identified and are being studied. Its spread has been intense and captured the world by surprise even as many infectious disease experts have been predicting a bacterial or viral infection of this magnitude for some time. According to National E. coli Lawyer Ron Simon, who has been practicing infectious disease litigation for over a decade, “a viral pandemic has been in the making for decades, with globalization shrinking the planet and overpopulation creating intense breading grounds for such viruses and bacteria.”
Simon is correct on both points. The large congregation of people in the cities of Europe and elsewhere is what contributed in large part to the deadly Plague and the spread of Spanish Flu. Similarly, the highly dense population in China at the epicenter of the most recent outbreak enabled the newly cooked-up virus to incubate and spread from host to host, adapting as it went. Then, with regard to Simon’s second point, the globalization of world, including the markets, travel, and distribution, has led to a situation in which the virus spreads like Girl Scout cookies. The virus has traveled, spreading from person to person globally, with the same ease in which a person in Brooklyn can buy a Chinese made toothbrush.
Civid 19 is here to stay until a vaccine is developed and widely distributed, and even then, it may return in various mutations that force us all to seek the annual vaccine much akin to a flu shot that may or may not be highly effective.
There is no doubt that this virus is dangerous, as thousands have died and President Trump admits that as many as 100,000 Americans could die of Covid 19. But it should also be understood for what it is. “As tragic as this is,” says E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, “over 60,000 people in the U.S. die of the common flu every year. In addition, as one of the nation’s few food poisoning lawyers, it is also astounding to note that 420,000 people in the world die every year from food poisoning, including about 3000 Americans. Another 75 thousand Americans must seek hospitalization each year due to food borne illness.”
According to Simon, who has been retained by thousands of victims of food poisoning, outbreaks like Salmonella and E. coli are like the Covid – 19 outbreak, though on a much smaller scale. “One ongoing outbreak,” says Simon, “is the E. coli outbreak linked to spouts served at Jimmy John’s and other vendors. About 40 victims in Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas and Idaho have acquired E. coli O103 after eating sprouts infected with E. coli. ” Simon reiterated that this outbreak is not nearly as intense or catastrophic as Covid -19, but that it also shares some of the traits that make outbreaks so much more wide-spread than in previous generations. “E. coli is a dangerous bacteria, with E. coli illnesses usually following ingestion of fecal matter contaminated with E. coli. Like in the Covid 19 pandemic, the pathogen’s spread is greatly assisted by globalization, in this case with tainted sprouts but on other occasions, as with widely distributed Romaine lettuce or imported sushi. The products are often produced in one part of the world, contaminated, and then spread throughout the world.”
“People die from communicable diseases every year, and it is always tragic” says E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, “but like Covid 19 deaths, those deaths are largely preventable through the practice of good personal hygiene, proper sanitary practices, and in the case of food borne illness, dedication to safe food preparation.” My firm has been dedicated to ensuring people have a safe food supply, and will continue to work to ensure that victims of food borne illness have a voice.
Simon is currently representing victims in the Clover Sprout E. coli O103 outbreak. The outbreak was first noted by the FDA in late 2019, linked to Jimmy John’s retail establishments, but the outbreak has also gone beyond Jimmy John’s, leading to the recall of Chicago Indoor Garden’s sprouts.
Simon is optimistic that Americans will survive Covid 19 with the same resilience that they have always faced danger. “Out thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families,” says Simon, adding “and we continue to work with families impacted by smaller outbreaks as well.”
