The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 19 states are affected by the recent E. coli outbreak.
The Latest Updates
On Wednesday, April 25, the CDC has revealed that 84 people have fallen victim to the deadly E. coli outbreak that has been carried by romaine lettuce. The health organization announced that Colorado, Georgia, and South Dakota were the latest states that reported cases of the virus. 42 people have been hospitalized, and nine people were diagnosed with kidney failure. As of publication, there have been no deaths reported.
The 19 States
The Washington Post revealed that Pennsylvania, California, and Idaho were the three states that had the most people affected by the virus. The three states reported 18, 13, and 10 cases, respectively. Montana and New Jersey each informed the CDC that they had seven cases, while Alaska and Arizona identified five instances. Ohio had three confirmed cases, while Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, and Washington each had two people sick. The remaining states that shared that they had one case were Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Louisiana, and Virginia.
Under Investigation
The CDC has narrowed the source of their investigation to Yuma, Arizona. The government agency reveals that it is struggling to find out which organizations were a part of growing the contaminated lettuce. However, the CDC advised consumers not to buy romaine lettuce if it came from Yuma. Also, it tasked restaurants and grocery stores to not sell any salads to their customers. They also encouraged them to talk about their supplies regarding where they get their lettuce.
The E. Coli Strain
Health officials have identified the E. coli strand as E. coli O157:H7. This bacteria strand carries a toxin called Shiga. If victims swallow the bacteria strand, it takes them two to eight days of showing symptoms. Some indicators that people have E. coli include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. In some extreme cases, they could develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, which could lead to life-threatening kidney failure.
More Female Victims
70 percent of the people suffering from the E. coli outbreak are women. Medical officials claim that one factor was determined why women were getting sick from the bacteria. Many women eat more vegetables and fruits than their male counterparts. Also, if females get sick, they are more than likely to seek medical assistance from their doctors.
Avoiding E. Coli
The CDC stated that there were several ways that people could prevent the bacteria. In addition to washing hands, they recommend that consumers cook meat thoroughly, avoid raw milk, and, if they are sick, not to prepare food. The E. Coli outbreak began March 13.
