Health Law

Cheese E. coli outbreak update: 33 confirmed illnesses in 5 states

By Drew Falkenstein

The CDC just reported that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese has grown to 33 confirmed illnesses in 5 states.  Arizona has 15 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 in the cheese outbreak, while Colorado has 10.  California has 3, New Mexico 3, and Nevada 2.  The dates of illness onset for the 33 confirmed cases range from october 16 through 24, 2010.  Patients range in age from 1 to 81 years; 15 people have been hospitalized; and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. 

Hemolytic uremic syndrome:

Post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS) is a severe, life-threatening complication that occurs in about 10 percent of those infected with E. coli O157:H7 or other Shiga toxin- (Stx-) producing E. coli. D+HUS was first described in 1955, but was not known to be secondary to E. coli infections until 1982. It is now recognized as the most common cause of acute kidney failure in infants and young children. Adolescents and adults are also susceptible, as are the elderly, who often succumb to the disease.

Lawsuits filed in the cheese E. coli O157:H7 outbreak:

Marler Clark filed three lawsuits on behalf of victims of the cheese E. coli outbreak this week in Federal Court in Arizona.  All three of our clients are Phoenix, Arizona residents, and all three were sick enough to require hospitalization at Phoenix area hospitals.  With almost half the outbreak victims requiring hospitalization to date (15/33), this is definitely a nasty strain of E. coli O157:H7.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on November 10, 2010 (boomark / email).