Last month, an E. Coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce occurred across the nation. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 120 people have gotten sick in 25 different states. NBC News reported that “at least 52 people have been hospitalized, including 14 with kidney failure, which is an unusually high number of hospitalizations.” Sadly, the first death caused by the E. coli contaminated lettuce was also reported last week in California.
The contaminated lettuce has been traced back to lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona. Yuma, Arizona reportedly provides most of the romaine lettuce for the United States during the winter months. While their growing season ended at the beginning of April, and likely no one is eating the contaminated lettuce now, the number of cases could still rise as people recognize and report their illnesses as E. coli poisoning.
The CDC informed citizens that “most E. coli bacteria are not harmful, but some produce toxins that can cause severe illness. People who get sick from toxin-producing E. coli come down with symptoms about three to four days after swallowing the germ, with many suffering bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.”
Food poisoning can cause debilitating infection and other personal injuries. If you think that you are a victim of food poisoning, you should seek medical attention immediately and report it to your local health department. Like with the current lettuce E. Coli outbreak, often the infection has been reported to spread to others, so it is important to take immediate action not only for your own health but also for the protection of those near to you.
Our Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys have handled thousands of personal injury claims, including food poisoning cases, resulting from negligence or other unsafe or unclean conditions throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and California. If you or someone you care about has suffered any injury due to food poisoning or the fault of another, please contact us as soon as possible so we can help you and your family with a proper investigation, preservation of evidence, medical care and financial recovery. Contact us today for a FREE consultation at 866-465-8792!