Nine more people have been affected by the ongoing multistate E. coli outbreak in the United States and Canada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So far, no common grower, supplier, or distributor has been identified as the source.
Multistate E. Coli Outbreak
On Nov. 26, the CDC updated its warning to consumers to refrain from consuming romaine lettuce or any products with romaine lettuce and for restaurants and retailers to refrain from selling romaine lettuce or other products containing it.
In its latest update about the ongoing multistate E. coli outbreak, the CDC announced that nine more people have been affected by the outbreak, bringing the total number to 52 people from 15 states. Furthermore, Canadian authorities also confirmed that 27 more cases are under investigation.
So far, 19 people have been hospitalized, including two who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kind of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
Although measures have already been made to remove the possibly contaminated products from the market, more cases may still be reported because of the two to three week period from when a person falls ill to when it is reported to the CDC.
Consumer Reminders
The CDC states that romaine lettuce from the northern and central California is the likely source of the outbreak, although no specific grower, distributor, or supplier has been identified.
Still, consumers are advised to avoid consuming romaine lettuce, particularly those from the said regions. Anyone who purchased unlabeled romaine lettuce with unknown origins must refrain from eating the said products and throw them away instead.
Romaine lettuce from other regions are not linked to the outbreak.
Anyone with E. coli symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, or vomiting, and believe that they may have gotten it from consuming romaine lettuce must immediately seek medical attention and report it to the health department.
