Students and parents at Rockwood Summit High School in St. Louis, MO are part of a multistate E. coli outbreak, Missouri health officials told St. Louis Public Radio. Leafy greens are the suspected source of the outbreak that includes at least 115 cases in the St. Louis area and illnesses in six other states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota.
At least 12 people have been hospitalized, three of them with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication that causes kidney failure. Young children and teens with E. coli infections are at elevated risk of developing HUS.
Do You Need an E. coli Lawyer?
St. Louis E. coli Outbreak Investigation Uncovers Multistate Outbreak
Health officials used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the genetic “fingerprint” of the strain from the 115 St. Louis-area patients. They found the prints matched each other and more cases in other states that had been uploaded to a national database managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The investigation began in November when 70 parents and students of Rockwood Summit High School became ill after attending off-campus events catered by Andre’s Banquets and Catering, according to multiple new sources. The Missouri State Health Laboratory in Jefferson City has since linked 25 cases to food served by Andre’s.
Leafy Greens are a Common Source of E. coli
Although a food source of the outbreak has not yet been identified, leafy greens are suspected. Many of the people sickened in this outbreak reported eating a salad before they became ill. Taylor Farms is the supplier of the tainted salad greens, according to KSDK News. The company supplied the tainted onions linked to the recent E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s.
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Symptoms of an E. coli Infection
Symptoms of an E. coli infection, which usually develop within one to three days of exposure, include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody.
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics should not be given to patients with E. coli infections as they can increase the chance of developing HUS.
HUS symptoms usually develop one week after E. coli symptoms and include:
- Pale skin
- Extreme fatigue
- Skin that easily bruises
- Decreased urine output
- Bloody diarrhea
Anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care as HUS can be fatal. Treatment for HUS includes blood transfusions, dialysis, plasma exchange, and kidney transplants.
Experienced E. coli Lawyers
The E. coli Team at Pritzker Hageman has represented clients in every major U.S. E. coli outbreak.
In one recent case, our team of E. coli lawyers obtained one of the largest E. coli verdicts in U.S. history on behalf of a young girl who contracted an E. coli-HUS infection from animal contact at a pumpkin patch. As a result of her E. coli-HUS infection, our client suffered a life-threatening illness that caused severe kidney damage.
If you or your family member developed an E. coli infection from contaminated food and you would like a free consultation with an experienced E. coli lawyer, please contact us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
