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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Seattle attorney Bill Marler, who is representing people sickened in the Chipotle outbreak, said the latest outbreak appears serious since two people have developed kidney failure.
Nineteen people in seven states including California contracted E. coli from chicken salad from Costco, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report.
An E.Coli outbreak has been linked to Costco’s rotisserie chicken salad, but the CDC is unaware of which ingredient was contaminated.
This current strain that has been linked to Costco was identified, as E. coli 157 that the CDC has said is more apt to be more harmful in particular for young children.
Affected states are California, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Utah, Washington and Virginia.
One case of E. coli has been confirmed in King County.
They have yet to determine what particular ingredient in the chicken salad that was made as well as sold in Costco stores could be the outbreak’s source.
The product “Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken” has an average shelf life of three days, Costco told public health officials last Friday.
The Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 is not the same strain that sickened Chipotle customers recently.
Costco vice president responsible for food safety Craig Wilson said there is no problem with the retailer’s rotisserie chickens which it continues to sell.
Investigators were testing food removed from the stores, including chicken salad and other products, and talking to those who have gotten sick. “Illnesses that occurred after November 10, 2015, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported”. He also said that the company has been helping in the investigation into the issue.
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However the Utah Department of Health states in a media release that there is a “strong association between reported illness and eating the salad”.
