The E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, AZ now includes one case in North Dakota. The outbreak, which began in late March, has sickened 121 people in 25 other states, according to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). State health officials did not release any demographic information about the North Dakota case-patient or whether the person who became ill ate the tainted salad greens at home or at a restaurant.
Fifty-two of the case-patients in this outbreak became so sick from their E. coli infections that they needed to be hospitalized, 14 of them are battling hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure associated with E. coli cases. The cases reported by state are as follows: Alaska (8), Arizona (8), California (24), Colorado (2), Connecticut (2), Georgia (4), Idaho (11), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), Montana (8), New Jersey (7), New York (2), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (20), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Utah (1), Virginia (1), Washington (6), and Wisconsin (1).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said last week that romaine lettuce is no longer being produced or distributed from Yuma. At this time of year, romaine production typically moves to California growing regions.
FDA investigators said that while they have been able to trace the contaminated romaine to the Yuma, AZ growing area, but have not been able to zero in on a farm or farms responsible for all of the illnesses. They are looking at dozens as they try to identify multiple distribution channels that could explain the whole outbreak, they said.
Eight cases at the Anvil Mountain correctional facility in Nome, Alaska have been linked to whole heads of romaine lettuce produced by Harrison Farms in Yuma, but no other illnesses are linked to romaine produced by this grower and the FDA has not yet determined where in the supply chain the contamination occurred.
Most of the illnesses in this outbreak are associated with chopped romaine lettuce, which many people reported eating at restaurants. State and federal health officials have not named the restaurants where some of those who were sickened reported eating the contaminated romaine, but one lawsuit that has been filed named Panera Bread.
Pritzker Hageman E. coli lawyers have represented clients nationwide in nearly every major outbreak over the last 20 years including this one. If you or a loved one have been sickened by E. coli, contact them for a free consultation. There is no obligation.