Muti-state E. coli Outbreak Sickens 60 Including Two Minnesotans
An E.coli outbreak that was initially thought to be concentrated in the St. Louis area, includes 60 victims from states including two people from Minnesota.
The outbreak began in early October with reports of E. coli illnesses associated with eating food from salad bars at various Schnucks grocery stores in the St. Louis area. A team of state and federal health officials, traced the source of the contamination to a single lot of Romaine lettuce grown on a California farm.
The E. coli 0157:H7 strain at the heart of this outbreak caused severe illness and many patients required hospitalization, including one of the Minnesota patients, according to a story in the Star Tribune.
Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries can also develop. Some infections can have long-term effects.
By state, the number of those sickened by the outbreak are as follows: Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1).
Those with legal questions regarding a hospitalization or illness associated with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness experts at the law firm of PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
