There are two Kansas residents among the twelve persons sickened in the outbreak of E. coli O26 announced by the CDC this week, and linked to consuming sprouts at Jimmy John’s. E. coli O26 is a “shiga-toxin” producing strain of the E. coli bacteria, the most well known of which is E. coli O157:H7. Like O157:H7, E. coli O26 can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
There have been a number of E. coli outbreaks in the past that have affected Kansas residents, courtesy of outbreak-database:
- 2011: Schnucks E. coli O157:H7 outbreak – romaine lettuce. 60 people were sickened in Arizona, Minnesota, Arkansas, Kansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska. Marler Clark has filed two lawsuits on behalf of victims of the outbreak.
- 2009: National Steak and Poultry, E. coli O157:H7 outbreak – steaks. 25 ill people in 16 states including Kansas.
- 2003: Stampede Meat E. coli O157:H7 outbreak – steaks. The outbreak sickened 16 people in Kansas and Minnesota.