The E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona has turned deadly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. The reported illnesses began between March 22 and March 31. The total number of cases has risen to 121, with 52 hospitalizations. A total of 25 states are now affected. The most recently reported illness began on April 21. Ill people range from age 1 to 88, with a median age of 29. This E. Coli outbreak has been harsher than usual, with more illnesses leading to hospitalizations than is normal. Plus, 14 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. The CDC notes that cases reported after April 11 may not be included in this most recent count because it can take a few weeks between when a person is diagnosed to the case being reported to the CDC. Related StoryWhat Is E. Coli? E. coli bacteria are found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals, according to the CDC. While some strains are harmless, others can make humans extremely sick, with common symptoms including diarrhea (usually bloody), severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. These symptoms usually appear about 3 to 4 days after eating or drinking something with the bacteria. Most people will recover within 5 to 7 days, but the CDC recommends seeing a doctor if diarrhea persists longer than 3 days or is paired with high fever, bloody stool, or so much vomiting you can’t keep liquids down. It may be hard to avoid contaminated food that’s already been prepared for you at a restaurant, but there are steps you can take to prevent E. coli contamination at home, like using separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce and scrubbing your hands with hot, soapy water before touching any food.
