May 2, 2018

CDC links death to Romaine lettuce illness outbreak

A death in California has been linked to an outbreak strain of E. coli bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC in a May 2 update on the outbreak said the one death had been linked to the outbreak, but didn’t specify in what region of California the death occurred, or other details of the death.

As of May 1, 121 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 25 states. Since the previous update April 27, 23 more people have been added to the count of sick people. Three more states have reported ill people: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Utah.

Fifty-two people have been hospitalized, including 14 people who have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to the CDC’s update.

The most recent illness started on April 21, 2018. Illnesses that occurred in the last two to three weeks might not yet be reported because of the time between when a person becomes ill with E. coli and when the illness is reported to CDC.

The CDC is advising consumers, restaurants and retailers to avoid eating, serving or selling any romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. This includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, baby romaine, organic romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce.

Restaurants and retailers should ask their suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce, according to the CDC.