Marler Clark has been retained by E. coli victims from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Idaho.
The CDC, FDA, USDA and the states of Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections.
As of April 9, 2018, 17 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from these 7 states. This number is expected to rise. Illnesses started from March 22, 2018 to March 31, 2018. Ill people range in age from 12 to 84 years, with a median age of 41. Among ill people, 65% are female. Thus far six people have been hospitalized, including at least one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. No deaths have yet been reported.
The numbers ill in each state is as follows:
Connecticut (2)
Idaho (4)
Missouri (1)
New Jersey (6)
Ohio (1)
Pennsylvania (2)
Washington (1)
According to the CDC, the investigation is still ongoing, and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections, although health officials in New Jersey implicated Panera as a possible source. State and local public health officials are interviewing ill people to determine what they ate and other exposures in the week before their illness began.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 3–4 days after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, however, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, including E. coli O157:H7 cause approximately 100,000 illnesses, 3,000 hospitalizations, and 90 deaths annually in the United States.
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