75 infected in 13 states – Thedoghousespa

Dozens of people in 13 states have fallen ill after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders contaminated with E. coli.

At least 75 people have become ill from the bacterial infection and one person has died in Colorado from the O157:H7 strain of E. coli, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. McDonald’s attributed the illnesses to chopped onions, and the Food and Drug Administration indicated that onions may have been the source of the outbreak.

What’s going on with the investigation?

Federal regulators are determining whether chopped onions or beef patties in Quarter Pounder burgers caused the outbreak, the CDC said.

Based on information available for 61 of the 75 people who became ill, the CDC said Friday 22 were hospitalized and two developed serious illness from the bacteria that can cause kidney failure. These cases began to appear in late September and continued until October 10.

Of 42 people interviewed by officials, all said they ate at McDonald’s, and 39 said they ate a beef hamburger. Of the 36 people who remembered which beef burger they ate, 31 said they had a quarter pounder.

Earlier this week, McDonald’s pulled its Quarter Pounders and cut onions from menus in several states. Taylor Farms, which supplied sliced onions to the affected McDonald’s locations, initiated a yellow onion recall, the CDC said.

In a statement, Taylor Farms said it had “preemptively” recalled yellow onions from its Colorado facility that had been sent to select food customers.

“We continue to work with the CDC and FDA investigating the source of the outbreak,” the statement said. “All Taylor Farms products on the market today are safe to eat.”

Outbreaks of E. coli sometimes occur in the U.S., and the bacteria ends up in the U.S. food supply in produce, including frozen foods and fresh vegetables, according to the study. University of California, Davis, Health.

Here are some other key facts to know about E. coli:

What is E. coli?

Escherichia coli is a bacterium that exists in food and water and in the intestines of humans and animals as a healthy part of the intestinal tract, the CDC said.

Different types of E. coli trigger different body responses. Some forms of the bacteria can make people sick.

How do people get infected with E. coli?

People can become infected through contaminated food or water, the CDC said. They can also get sick from contact with animals, animal feces, animal environments, or the feces of a person infected with E. coli.

Shiga toxin infection is often transmitted through contaminated food, especially leafy greens and ground beef, as well as unsafe water, the CDC said. Contact with infected animals, especially cattle, and feces from an infected person are also possible sources.

People in high-income countries are more likely to get sick from bacteria. The said the Cleveland Clinic The US has about 265,000 infections with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli each year, making it the most common cause of outbreaks and infections.

What are the typical symptoms after ingesting E. coli?

In it update on McDonald’s casesThe CDC said most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing forms of E. coli like the one found in these individuals suffer from severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. In some cases, people develop serious kidney problems that require hospitalization.

Symptoms usually start three to four days after eating food or drink that contains the bacteria.

How to avoid contact with E. coli?

The FDA said people who ate at McDonald’s and have symptoms should contact their health care providers.

In general, the FDA says you can prevent foodborne illness by taking sanitary precautions at home, washing your hands with warm water and soap before and after touching raw food or after touching contaminated items such as diapers or cleaning surfaces.

The federal agency also recommends washing items that have come into contact with raw food, such as the inside of refrigerators or cutting boards. You can sanitize them with one tablespoon of chlorine bleach for every gallon of hot water and dry the surfaces with a clean cloth or paper towel.

People should clean up spills from the refrigerator immediately. People with pets can take precautions to avoid cross-contamination when preparing their pets’ food and should wash their hands after touching pets.

People should also cook meat thoroughly at 160 degrees and avoid raw milk or other unpasteurized products.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)