Cheese E. coli Update AZ CO CA NM NV
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The Costco cheese E. coli outbreak has now sicked 33 people in Arizona, Colorado, southern California, Nevada and New Mexico. The number of ill persons confirmed in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (15), CA (3), CO (10), NM (3) and NV (2). There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths. The CDC said lab testing on two opened packages of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese purchased at Costco from two different case patient’s homes has identified E. coli O157:H7 matching the outbreak strain. There have been three other findings of E. coli 0157:H7 in Costco-sold gouda cheese from Bravo Farms, but more tests are needed to determine if they have the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain. One finding was in a previously unopened sample of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese obtained from a Costco store.
Additional investigation is being conducted for a Bravo Farms cheese lawsuit for E. coli and HUS. A major unanswered question is where in the processing or distribution chain did the contamination occur? Almost certainly, raw milk is a leading suspect.
If your or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has established a claims center to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and additional harms. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page for a free case consultation with an E. coli lawyer. Our firm is in contact with victims of this outbreak and is continuing to accept additional cases. We have years of experience representing E. coli victims in outbreaks of foodborne illness and we represent case patients in practically every major outbreak.
E. coli 0157:H7 infections are not to be taken lightly. When ingested by humans, the bacterium releases a powerful toxin that attacks red blood cells, often causing bloody diarrhea and painful cramping as initial symptoms. Many healthy adults withstand infections with no medical assistance, but in 5 to 15 percent of cases the organism causes HUS, the leading cause of kidney failure in children worldwide. HUS and TTP patients (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) also are at risk for brain damage, paralysis, anemia, strokes and heart complications. Children under the age of 5 and older adults are most susceptible to developing HUS TTP, which can have life-long consequences.
