The Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to contaminated uncooked onions on Quarter Pounder hamburgers served at McDonald’s has grown by 14 reported circumstances, 7 hospitalizations, and 1 extra state, topping 100 sicknesses, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned in an replace yesterday.
For the reason that CDC launched an investigation on October 22, the Shiga toxin–producing E coli outbreak has sickened 104 individuals, with 34 hospitalizations, 4 circumstances of the life-threatening kidney illness referred to as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and the dying of an 88-year-old man in Colorado. Sickness onsets have been reported from September 12 to October 21.
Ongoing threat low, company says
The contaminated slivered yellow onions at eating places the place they have been distributed are expired and have been recalled by the provider, Taylor Farms. McDonald’s has since sourced a special provider for the affected places.
The chance of contaminated onions nonetheless being accessible on the market is low.
The greens had been distributed to solely food-service institutions reminiscent of eating places relatively than shops. “The chance of contaminated onions nonetheless being accessible on the market is low,” the replace mentioned.
Affected states embody Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Signs of E coli an infection embody abdomen cramps, diarrhea, fever, and nausea or vomiting. Extreme circumstances may cause bloody diarrhea and HUS and result in hypertension, power kidney illness, and neurologic issues.
