Romaine Lettuce E. coli Victims: Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey Illinois, and Pennsylvania E. coli Outbreak Romaine Lettuce Identified
- Wisconsin Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 33
- Illinois Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 10
- Minnesota Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 5
- New Jersey Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 9
- Ohio Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 12
- Pennsylvania Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 17
- Texas Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 6
- Colorado Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: 6
The 25-state national Romaine Lettuce E. coli outbreak has now caused:
- 138 CDC-Confirmed Victims (a lengthy lag time implies many more will be identified)
- 72 have been hospitalized for E. coli
- 13 have been identified with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
- Luckily, no Deaths have been reported
The source is believed to be the Salinas growing region of California, a state that has confirmed 4 victims itself. CDC and local and state epidemiologists used:
- Epidemiologic Evidence (evidence showing a risk factor is highly associated (correlated))
- Laboratory Evidence (including stool tests and testing of samples to identify a particular pathogen)
- Trace-back Evidence (the evidence of a products movement in the stream of commerce)
CDC officials have warned potential Romaine Lettuce E. coli Victims to be vigilant, as the product is often mixed, used, sold in ways that might confuse the origin of the product. MOST (but not all) Romaine lettuce is sold with a label indicating the harvest region. If the label says “grown in Salinas” the product should NOT be consumed.
The CDC provides guidance for potential Romaine Lettuce E. coli Victims and information about Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC): E. coli Facts
- While many people believe that food poisoning presents itself immediately, in reality, the onset usually occurs between 2 and 8 days AFTER a person consume the product, with the average being 3-4 days.
- Symptoms of E. coli include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea that becomes VERY bloody, and sometimes vomiting.
- The effects last about a week in most people, but can last much longer in some.
- A small group, usually children, the elderly or people with weak immune systems, develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which causes the kidneys to fail.
According to one national E. coli lawyer, who has represented many Romaine Lettuce E. coli Victims
“this is the third time in about a year, that leafy greens have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli, the potentially deadly bacteria many people believed was a “meat” problem!”
