CDC Updates Case Numbers for E. coli Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce

The CDC released an update of the number of cases of E. coli infection associated with the Romaine Lettuce Outbreak.   There are now 197 ceases with 89 being hospitalized and 5 deaths.  This is reported as one of the largest E. coli outbreaks.  These cases still fall in the window for the Yuma AZ grown romaine, which is reported as being completely out of the supply chain.  The reason additional cases are being reported is the lag from eating to illness to reporting on the federal level.  The last case starting on May 12.

There is still no further information on the source or contributing factors.

https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce

At A Glance
Case Count: 197
States: 35
Deaths: 5
Hospitalizations: 89
Recall: No

What's New?

• Twenty-five more ill people from 13 states were added to this investigation since the last update on May 16, 2018.
• Three more states have reported ill people: Arkansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
• Four more deaths were reported from Arkansas (1), Minnesota (2), and New York (1).
• It takes two to three weeks between when a person becomes ill with E. coli and when the illness is reported to CDC. Most of the people who recently became ill ate romaine lettuce when lettuce from the Yuma growing region was likely still available in stores, restaurants, or in peoples’ homes. Some people who became sick did not report eating romaine lettuce, but had close contact with someone else who got sick from eating romaine lettuce.

Highlights

• Information collected to date indicates that romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region could have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 and made people sick.
• According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the last shipments of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region were harvested on April 16, 2018, and the harvest season is over. It is unlikely that any romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region is still available in people’s homes, stores, or restaurants due to its 21-day shelf life.
• Advice to Consumers:
• If you have symptoms of an E. coli infection, take action and talk to your healthcare provider.
• Follow these steps to help keep you healthy and your fruits and vegetables safer to eat.
• Read more on general ways to prevent E. coli infection. An important step is to wash hands after using the restroom or changing diapers, before and after preparing or eating food, and after contact with animals.
• Advice to Clinicians:
• Antibiotics are not recommended for patients with suspected E. coli O157 infections until diagnostic testing can be performed and E. coli O157 infection is ruled out.
• CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.
• 197 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 35 states.
• 89 people have been hospitalized, including 26 people who have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
• 5 deaths have been reported from Arkansas (1), California (1), Minnesota (2), and New York (1).
• The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified people in several Canadian provinces infected with the same DNA fingerprint of E. coli O157:H7.
• This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide updates when more information is available.