The CDC today released an investigation update of a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce.

Updates:

• Since the last case count update on April 25, 2018, 14 more ill people have been reported, bringing the total to 98 ill people from 22 states.
• Forty-six people out of 87 with available information (53%) have been hospitalized, including 10 who developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
• CDC laboratory testing has confirmed that the strain of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli O157:H7 causing this outbreak produces a type of toxin that tends to cause more severe illness, which may explain why there is a high hospitalization rate.
• No deaths have been reported.
• Three more states have reported ill people: Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
• The latest illness started on April 20, 2018.
• For the latest information about the traceback investigation, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm604254.htm.

CDC’s advice remains the same:

• Do not eat or buy romaine lettuce unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Ask your suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce.
• If you do not know whether lettuce is romaine, do not eat it. This includes lettuce in a salad mix. Package labels often do not identify growing regions. CDC is advising consumers not to eat or buy romaine lettuce if they do not know where it was grown.
• This advice includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, baby romaine, organic romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce.
• People get sick from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli an average of 3 to 4 days after swallowing the germ. Most people get diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps and vomiting.
• Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.
• Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection and report your illness to your local health department.
• This investigation is ongoing and health officials will provide more information as it becomes available.

If you have further questions about this outbreak, please call the CDC media line at (404) 639-3286. If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.