FRIDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Romaine lettuce from one farm
was the likely source of an E. coli outbreak that sickened 60
people in 10 states between Oct. 10 and Nov. 30, according to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Illnesses were reported in Missouri (37), Illinois (9), Kansas
(3), Minnesota (3), Arkansas (2), Indiana (2), and Arizona,
Georgia, Kentucky, and Nebraska (all with one case each). People
who became ill ranged in age from 1 to 94 years.
Information available for 45 of the ill people shows that 30
were hospitalized and two developed severe kidney disease. There
were no deaths, the CDC researchers noted.
Some of the contaminated romaine lettuce was sold in the salad
bars of grocery stores belonging to St. Louis-based Schnuck
Markets, the company said Thursday. The CDC said the lettuce was
contaminated prior to distribution to the grocery store chain.
"What they're telling us is they have tracked it back to one particular farm," Schnucks spokeswoman Lori Willis told the Associated Press. Neither Schnucks nor the CDC provided the location of the farm.
The actual source of the E. coli O157:H7 contamination on the
farm was not pinpointed and the farm was no longer in production at
the time of the investigation, the CDC said.
The agency also said the E. coli outbreak appears to be over,
and consumers should no longer avoid eating lettuce from Schnucks
or any other store.
People infected with E. coli O157:H7 often develop diarrhea
(sometimes bloody) and abdominal cramps two to eight days after
ingesting the bacteria. Most people recover within a week, but some
have a more severe infection that can lead to kidney failure, the
CDC said.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about
E. coli infection.