CDC investigating ‘Fast-Moving’ E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio
Health officials are yet to detect a source for the outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that a “fast-moving” E. coli breakout has infected dozens of people and hospitalized nine others in Ohio and Michigan.
The CDC announced via a press release on Wednesday that 29 individuals are ill due to the outbreak from an unknown source. No deaths have been reported at this time, as the first infection was recorded in July. The number of infected could increase over time due to the uncertainty behind the source of the outbreak.
The people infected with the bacteria have age ranges from 6 to 91 years old. The CDC says it will use its PulseNet system to track down the cause of the outbreak during its investigation. The agency stated the true number of infected may be higher and present in other states.
“Some of the illnesses reported in Michigan and Ohio have not yet been reported to the PulseNet system, but investigators are working quickly to add them to PulseNet to determine if they may be part of this outbreak.,” the CDC said in a statement on Wednesday.
Health officials have not yet identified the source of the bacteria.
Health officials are yet to detect the source of the outbreak, but it is thought to be tied to a food item. The bacteria is caught by ingesting contaminated food, which may include ground beef, unpasteurized milk or even salad packages.
An estimated 265,000 Americans are infected every year with E.coli, suffering symptoms including bloody diarrhea and vomiting. About 100 people die from the disease annually.
It comes after more than 120,000lbs of ground beef was re-called in April over fears they were contaminated with E. coli. Four outbreaks were spotted last year in items including packaged salads and cake mixes.
It appears the state of Michigan has had several outbreaks this month already, in addition to the current one. Officials are urging everyone to pay attention to food . . . how they prepare it and what they have eaten if they get sick.
In a separate news release, Michigan’s health department said it had received 98 reports of E. coli cases this month — up from 20 in August last year. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive at the department, said the “significant jump in cases is alarming.” The Ohio Department of Health said it is assisting federal and local health officials with investigations. The affected individuals range from age 11 to 72, it said.
Symptoms of E. coli can include diarrhea, fever, excessive vomiting and dehydration, according to the CDC. “If you have symptoms of E. coli, help us solve this outbreak: Write down what you ate in the week before you got sick” and report your case to health authorities, the CDC said in its notice.
It also urged people to practice proper food safety: washing hands, utensils and surfaces often, rinsing fruits and vegetables, keeping raw meat separate from other foods, using a food thermometer to ensure meats are cooked properly and refrigerating perishable foods. Most infections come from food sources, but E. coli can be spread from person to person in places with frequent, close contact.
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Person to person spread is almost nil (and usually involves a lack of sanitary practices), so it’s probably something in the food and/or water supply.
Wash your hands, wash your food, ignore the CDC, you’ll be fine.
Yes, I’m being callous and flippant and there are other avenues for infection that won’t be covered by that oversimplified answer.
I’m noticing a lot of ekection-borne diseases cropping up.
Fauci recommends bears shampoo their fur once a week.
I already do that dar more often. Conditioner as well. It keeps my pelt soft, manageable, and easy to brush.
Two thumbs up.
“Wendy’s pulls lettuce from sandwiches amid E. coli outbreak”
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-wendy-lettuce-sandwiches-coli-outbreak.html
I’m keeping a six-foot distance between me and all Jack In The Boxes.
I distinctly remember it wasn’t the lettuce that time.
Make sure you clean the tip of your 6 ft pole periodically.
And don’t write bad Czechs.
Because if you get caught, your Turkey will be cooked and you will be left Hungary.
CDC investigating ‘Fast-Moving’ E. coli outbreak …
You’d best be moving fast — to the toilet.
The Highway Patrol clocked it at 250 mph.
My younger sister developed food poisoning on our way to a siblings reunion a couple weeks ago. She was so very very sick and ended up in the hospital via ambulance. We are older and she is on chemo for ovarian cancer so she had no reserves. After watching how ill she got so quickly I can see how people can die from food poisoning. So hard to be very sick far from home in a unfamiliar town. People were very kind.
My sister is a former nurse and super careful about hygiene because of her cancer, but, wow, ya gotta watch while eating out while traveling! Stay away from shellfish!
I’m so sorry to hear of your sisters plight but glad she got adequate help
Yeah, doesn’t have to be shellfish as one link above shows.
There have been instances in produce where the irrigation water gets contaminated (often from agricultural runoff) and you can’t wash it off of the food no matter what you do. It infiltrates inside the plant’s tissues as it takes up the water from the soil.
Since produce is often eaten raw in things like salads, one is especially vulnerable when ingesting contaminated food like this.
Sorry about your sister, but “Stay away from shellfish!” is not a very good response. The vast majority of E Coli cases are not from eating contaminated shellfish.
CDC is a private organization.. like the tax free Clinton Foundation that makes huge profits..
Of course they know the source. Climate change.
Next headline we will see, “CDC recommends wearing face masks to prevent E. coli spread”.
Or butt masks, different than underwear I presume
Not systematic racism?
I’m surprised this isn’t more under the purview of the USDA and/or FDA.
It probably is under their purview as well. What’s better than a corrupt bureaucracy? Three corrupt bureaucracies!
Well it will be once they identify the culprit.
USDA/FDA aren’t great at detectivizing. They’re more beat cops.
When in doubt, check with Robert Mueller. He’s the world’s foremost expert on puview.
Note: over fear of contamination, not actual evidence of contamination, and ground beef is rarely consumed raw. This is starting to feel like overtesting or simple panic not medicine.