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 known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and the demise of an 88-year-old man in Colorado. Sickness onsets had been reported from September 12 to October 21.
Ongoing threat low, company says
The contaminated slivered yellow onions at eating places the place they had been distributed are expired and have been recalled by the provider, Taylor Farms. McDonald’s has since sourced a distinct provider for the affected areas.
The chance of contaminated onions nonetheless being obtainable on the market is low.
The greens had been distributed to solely food-service institutions equivalent to eating places moderately than shops. “The chance of contaminated onions nonetheless being obtainable 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 could cause bloody diarrhea and HUS and result in hypertension, power kidney illness, and neurologic issues.
