Almost 50 people have become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. One person has died.
The 49 patients are spread across ten states, with the majority being in Colorado, where there are 27 patients, and in Nebraska, where there are 9. One child has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which can cause kidney failure, multiple organ damage, and even death.
There are likely many more patients than have been confirmed because, according to the CDC, as many as 26 people with infections go undiagnosed during E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all of the sick people ate at McDonald’s before becoming ill, and most reported eating Quarter-Pound sandwiches before becoming ill. Ten people have been hospitalized.
“The specific ingredient linked to illness has not yet been identified, but investigators are focused on two ingredients in particular: fresh, slivered onions, and fresh beef (not frozen) patties,” according to a notice from the CDC.
Bill Marler of the Food Safety Lawfirm in Seattle, WA, said it is probably the onions because for it to be the burgers themselves it would mean that McDonald’s would have to be undercooking hamburgers in multiple states, which he views as unlikely. In recent years raw onions have been the source of pathogens in multiple outbreaks not related to McDonald’s.
After the CDC announced the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that onions are the likely source of the E. coli.
“Preliminary traceback and distribution information reviewed by FDA shows that slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of contamination,”according the FDA. “FDA is working quickly to confirm that these onions are a source of this outbreak and to determine if these onions were served or sold at other businesses. McDonald’s has temporarily stopped using this type of onion in these states. Diced onions used at McDonald’s are not implicated in this outbreak”
McDonald’s officials have reported to the CDC that the fast food chain has discontinued sales of its quarter pounders in some states.
“Investigators are working to confirm which ingredient in these hamburgers is making people sick and if it went to other restaurants or stores., the CDC reported.
In addition to the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are working on the outbreak investigation.
The CDC is urging people who have eaten McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers and developed symptoms of E. coli infection to immediately seek medical attention. The disease can quickly become severe and lead to serious health problems and death. The symptoms can mimic other illnesses, so patients should ask to be tested for E. coli infection.
About E. coli infections
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is frequently bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, tiredness, decreased frequency of urination, blood diarrhea, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.
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