Out of the people infected, five have already been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, but two individuals developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a type of kidney failure that can lead to permanent organ damage, the news service added.
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The outbreak is concentrated in the western USA, with six cases reported in Montana; five in Utah; four in Colorado; and one case each in California, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state.
That’s the word from the CDC, who says the infection was discovered in seven states. As health departments get more reports of foodborne illness, additional people will be checked for the fingerprint and the case count will likely rise, Tauxe said.
She says the investigation by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is complicated because the salad with rotisserie chicken is put together in-store with ingredients from a variety of sources. “They really liked and ate the rotisserie chicken salad”, he said.
Wilson identified the supplier as Taylor Farms in Salinas, Calif.
The E. coli outbreak that so far has sickened 19 people in seven states is more likely to be life-threatening.
Costco’s shares closed down 1.3 percent at $162.19 after heavy trading on Tuesday and were down slightly more in extended trading.
One of the biggest concerns for the health officials at this moment is that the exact ingredient of the rotisserie chicken salad causing the infection hasn’t been identified yet.
The CDC announced that the illness reportedly started on October 6 and involved people between the ages of 5 and 84.
“Our rotisserie chickens are not implicated at all”, Wilson said.
CBC.ca is reporting that Seattle attorney Bill Marler, who is representing those sickened in the Chipotle Outbreak, said this latest E. coli outbreak is an excellent example of why food safety is so important.
Symptoms linked with this particular strain of E.coli include diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
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The CDC is advising people through campaigns to drop or throw away the chicken salad recently bought, even after consuming a small amount.
