Georgia – 50
Kentucky – 69
Tennessee -55
Largest beef E. coli outbreak in decades. 28 hospitalized – 2 with acute kidney failure – hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
As of May 13, 2019, 196 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 have been reported from 10 states -Florida 5, Georgia 49, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Kentucky 69, Minnesota 1, Mississippi 1, Ohio 12, Tennessee 55 and Virginia 2. CDC is reporting the 196 illnesses that the PulseNet laboratory network has confirmed are part of this outbreak. States are investigating additional illnesses that might be a part of this outbreak.
Illnesses started on dates from March 1, 2019, to April 19, 2019. Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 84 years, with a median age of 19. Fifty-two percent are female. Of 174 people with information available, 28 (16%) have been hospitalized. No deaths and two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported.
This multistate investigation began on March 28, 2019, when officials in Kentucky and Georgia notified CDC of this outbreak. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that ground beef is the likely source of this outbreak.
Officials in Tennessee collected ground beef from a restaurant where ill people reported eating. Laboratory testing identified the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 in the ground beef collected in Tennessee.
Two companies recalled raw ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli. Grant Park Packing in Franklin Park, Ill., recalled approximately 53,200 pounds of raw ground beef products on April 24, 2019. K2D Foods, doing business as Colorado Premium Foods, in Carrollton, Ga., recalled approximately 113,424 pounds of raw ground beef products on April 23, 2019. These products were sold to restaurants and institutions. At this time, no common supplier, distributor, or brand of ground beef has been identified that could account for the whole outbreak.
Outbreaks of E. coli O103 are rare but do occur. From the CDC NORS dataset:
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/norsdashboard/
Year | State | Transmission | Serotype | Setting | Illnesses |
2000 | Washington | Food | O103 | Caterer (food prepared off-site from where served); Other | 18 |
2010 | Minnesota | Food | O103:H2; O145:NM | School/college/university | 29 |
2011 | Wisconsin | Animal Contact | O103; O157:H7 | unknown | 6 |
2013 | Minnesota | Person-to-person | O103 | Child day care | 3 |
2013 | Pennsylvania | Indeterminate | O103:H2 | Private home/residence | 2 |
2014 | Ohio | Indeterminate | O103 | Child day care | 3 |
2014 | Multistate | Food | O103:H2 | Restaurant – other or unknown type | 12 |
2014 | Ohio | Indeterminate | O103; O157:H7; O146:H21 | Private home/residence | 4 |
2015 | Multistate | Food | O103 | Restaurant – other or unknown type | 4 |
2015 | Ohio | Person-to-person | O103 | School/college/university | 6 |
2015 | Multistate | Food | O103 | Restaurant – other or unknown type | 6 |
2015 | Kansas | Person-to-person | O103 | Child day care | 12 |
2015 | North Carolina | Person-to-person | O103 | Child day care | 20 |
2015 | Virginia | Person-to-person | O103:H2 | Prison/jail | 4 |
2015 | Ohio | Indeterminate | O103 | Child day care | 5 |
2016 | Ohio | Indeterminate | O103 | Other, specify | 7 |
2017 | Ohio | Person-to-person | O103 | Child day care | 4 |
2017 | Oregon | Food | O103 | Other | 13 |
Additional Resources
- About E. coli – a complete online resource with information on symptoms and risks of E. coli infection
- Marler Clark E. coli Lawsuits and Litigation
- A downloadable Family Health Guide on E. coli (PDF)
- About Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $650 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.
If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.