FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell/File Photo

(Reuters) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other U.S. agencies are investigating an E.coli outbreak in five states, the CDC said https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o103-04-19/map.html on Friday.

The CDC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and several states are investigating the outbreak of toxin-producing E.coli O103 infections.

Escherichia coli, or E.coli bacteria, normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Although many strains of the bacteria are harmless, certain strains can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia are the five states that have reported E.coli infections relating to particular strain of the bacteria.

As many as 72 people from these states have reported infections and eight have been hospitalized as of April 4, 2019, the agency said. No deaths were reported.

The investigation is still going on and the reason for the outbreak is yet to be identified, the agency said. </s> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several other US agencies are investigating an E. coli outbreak in five states, the CDC said here on Friday.

The CDC, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the US Food and Drug Administration and several states are investigating the outbreak of toxin-producing E. coli O103 infections.

Escherichia coli, or E. coli bacteria, normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Although many strains of the bacteria are harmless, certain strains can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia are the five states that have reported E. coli infections relating to the particular strain of the bacteria.

As many as 72 people from these states have reported infections and eight have been hospitalized as of April 4, 2019, the agency said. No deaths were reported.

The investigation is still going on and the reason for the outbreak is yet to be identified, the agency said. </s> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it has yet to determine the source of an E. coli outbreak that has infected 72 people in five states — an admission one expert in food-borne illness called “perplexing,” considering how many have become sick.

The recent spate of sickness, which began March 2, is directly linked to a strain of E. coli known as “O103,″ according to the CDC. Eight people have been hospitalized as a result of the O103 outbreak, however, no deaths have been reported. The patients’ ages range from 1 to 74 years old with a median age of 17.

Symptoms of E. coli infection often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, typically occurring three days after consuming the bacteria. The states affected by the outbreak are Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

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Bill Marler, a food safety lawyer from Seattle with more than 25 years of experience, told The Washington Post there’s “no question” the patients in this case share one common source of infection. It’s “concerning,” he said, that the CDC has yet to pinpoint the source to a specific food item, grocery store or restaurant chain.

“Given the size and the number of states that are involved, what you’re seeing is very unusual,” Marler said. “If it was five people or 10 people, that’s a little harder to figure out. But when there’s 72 people and they’re being interviewed by epidemiologists, it’s pretty unusual you don’t have a culprit.”

He added: “The real question is, what do 72 people have in common over five states? It has to be something.”

That something, Marler said, is likely a food or water product that people can’t remember they ate. State and local health officials are required to interview ill patients and determine what they consumed in the week leading up to their symptoms, but recalling one’s dietary choices is oftentimes easier said than done, he said.

Condiments, garnish, toppings, and spices can all contain traces of E. coli. But it’s unlikely the patients in this outbreak were keeping track of all the additives in their recent diets, he added.

“That’s probably why it’s taking longer to figure out — because people can’t remember what was in their meal,” Marler said.

Citing a CDC data set that dates back to 1998, Marler noted outbreaks of E. coli O103 are relatively uncommon. Eighteen such outbreaks have been reported in the United States since 2000, with the highest number of reported illnesses being 29 during a 2010 outbreak in Minnesota.

That makes this O103 outbreak by far the largest in recent memory, he said.

It’s likely that number will grow. Marler said the CDC estimates that for every person reported sick, there are 5 to 10 ill people who have not been accounted for. “I would expect to see the numbers at least double in the next 10 days unless immediate action is taken this weekend,” he said.

Thirty-six of the reported illnesses in this case stem from Kentucky. Last week, local health officials issued an alert for a “sudden increase in O103 cases” in the state, according to the Mercer County Health Department, which wrote in a Facebook post the illnesses were found in “children and teenagers with extensive exposure to fast food.”

If that’s true, Marler said, it corresponds to the dietary habits of many 17-year-olds: the reported median patient age.

“It definitely does underscore it’s probably some convenience, fast food consumed by kids,” he said. One silver lining, he added, is that people in this age range are typically healthy and not prone to further complications from E. coli.

To avoid disease, the CDC advises that people cook foods thoroughly, wash fruits and vegetables and limit consumption of raw or unpasteurized juice and dairy products. Hand washing can also help prevent contamination.

But Marler says people fearing illness should go one step further: avoid uncooked food items entirely, at least until the CDC draws its conclusion.

“It won’t kill you not to have a salad or smoothie made with fresh fruits and vegetables,” Marler said. “You can live without that for a couple days as this shakes out.”

Lena H. Sun contributed to this report.

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This public health corps deploys to disasters, disease outbreak. The White House wants to cut it by 40 percent </s> An E. coli outbreak has sickened 72 people across five states.

The reported cases were in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement announcing the outbreak. Eight people have been hospitalized, the CDC added.

The agency has not yet pinpointed a specific food, grocery store or restaurant chain responsible for the infections, and is not recommending people avoid a particular food.

Symptoms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC. Most people get better within five to seven days, though the illness can be severe and in some cases even life-threatening. </s> Health officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 72 people across five states, federal health agencies said Friday.

Eight people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement announcing the outbreak. The CDC is working with the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service to investigate the outbreak.

They have not yet pinpointed a specific food, grocery store or restaurant chain that's responsible for the infections. Therefore, the CDC is not recommending people avoid a particular food.

E. coli O103 is the particular strain involved in the cases, which were reported between March 2 and March 29, the CDC said. The people infected range between the ages of 1 to 74, with 17 being the median age.

Last year, an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce sickened 62 people across 16 states and Washington, DC. </s> • An E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 72 people in five states, the CDC announced on Friday.
• Eight people who have been infected have been hospitalized.
• Investigators have not identified any specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain as the source of the infections.

E. coli has sickened more than 70 people in five states, and health officials continue to search for the source.

72 people have been infected with an outbreak strain of E. coli O103, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. Eight people have been hospitalized.

Investigators are still attempting to pinpoint the source of the outbreak and have not identified any specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain as the source of the infections. Illnesses started on the dates from March 2 to March 29.

“CDC is not recommending that consumers avoid any particular food at this time,” the CDC said in a statement. “Restaurants and retailers are not advised to avoid serving or selling any particular food.”

Analysis of the E. coli strain indicates that the ill people appear to share a common source of infection.

With more than 70 people sickened, this E. coli outbreak is already larger than the most recent major E. coli outbreak, which was linked to romaine lettuce and resulted in 43 reported illnesses across 12 states in late 2018. Previously, in April 2018, the FDA revealed that romaine lettuce harvested in the Yuma, Arizona, region was contaminated with E. coli in a separate outbreak that left five people dead and sickened at least 210.

Read more: Romaine lettuce sales are down more than $71 million so far this year as the industry has been pummeled with food-poisoning outbreaks

So far, there have not been any deaths reported in connection to the most recent E. coli outbreak.

E. coli infections often induce severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Roughly 5% to 10% of people who are infected develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening kidney complication.

To prevent an E. coli infection, the CDC recommends that people wash their hands, cook meat thoroughly, and avoid cross-contamination of food. Experts also advise people to avoid raw milk and water, unpasteurized juices, and some other high-risk foods. </s> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other U.S. agencies are investigating an E.coli outbreak in five states, the CDC said on Friday.

Per the agency's latest announcement, the bacteria has sickened 72 people across five states in the US.

It is not yet clear what the source of the outbreak is, but it seems to be widespread.

Eight people have been hospitalized and the CDC is warning consumers, restaurants to take precautions to prevent infections while it and other agencies search for the contamination's origin.

The CDC, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several states are investigating the outbreak of toxin-producing E.coli O103 infections.

Escherichia coli, or E.coli bacteria, normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals.

Although many strains of the bacteria are harmless, certain strains can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia are the five states that have reported E.coli infections relating to particular strain of the bacteria.

As many as 72 people from these states have reported infections and eight have been hospitalized as of April 4, 2019, the agency said.

The investigation is still going on and the reason for the outbreak is yet to be identified, the agency said.

This outbreak comes a week after 5,000 lbs of meat were recalled over E. coli fears.

Also last week, the FDA warned that romaine growers failed to prevent last year's deadly E. coli outbrak in an 'epic and tragic' way, and warned that another outbreak is likely this summer.

Last year's romaine outbreak turned deadly because the particular strain of E. coli involved produced Shiga-toxins, which cause much more serious infections.

The mysterious current outbreak involves a different strain of E. coli, but this one, too, produces Shiga-toxins.

State health agencies and hospitals will be on high alert for illnesses related to the outbreak.

To prevent contamination and infections, the CDC is remind the public to make sure to wash their hands well, cook meats thoroughly, keep clean, separate work areas when preparing food, wash fruits and vegetables, avoid raw, unpasteurized dairy products, and stay out of the kitchen when sick. </s> Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption No clear source for the outbreak has yet been identified

Five people have now died in a major E. coli outbreak in the US involving romaine lettuce, with 197 cases reported across 35 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 25 more people had been affected since its last report on 16 May.

Two of the victims were from Minnesota, with the other three from Arkansas, California and New York.

It is the largest US outbreak of E. coli since 200 people fell ill in 2006.

According to the latest statement from the CDC, many of the people affected fell ill two to three weeks ago, when the contaminated lettuce was still on shop shelves.

Romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region in Arizona is thought to be the source of the latest outbreak, although the Food and Drug Administration says no single grower, distributor or region can account for the spread.

An investigation is ongoing.

The CDC said that some of the affected people had not eaten lettuce, but had contact with others who had fallen ill.

When eaten, it can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and even kidney failure in severe cases.

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Of the infected people, 89 have been hospitalised, and 26 have developed a kidney failure type known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Canada's Public Health Agency has also recorded six cases of E. coli "with a similar genetic fingerprint" to the US infections.

The E. coli outbreak began in April and has spread across the US.

California and Pennsylvania are recording the most cases. </s> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli infections in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.

The multi-state outbreak that began March 2 has sicken 72 people to date and hospitalized eight, according to the CDC.

Kentucky has the highest number of cases at 36 with Tennessee second with 21 reported infections.

Escherichia coli are bacteria found in the environment, foods and intestines of people and animals. The types of E. coli that can cause illness can be transmitted through contaminated water or food or through contact with animals or people.

The investigation by the CDC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is ongoing and no specific food item, grocery store or restaurant chain has been identified as the source of infections, according to the CDC investigation notice.

The CDC is not recommending that consumers avoid any particular food at this time. Restaurants and retailers are not advised to avoid serving or selling any particular food.

States are said to be investigating additional illnesses that might be a part of this outbreak.

Those infected are said to range in age from 1 to 74 years with a median age of 17.

Although most strains of E. coli are said to be harmless, some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, respiratory illness and pneumonia and other illnesses.

Most people with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or STEC start feeling sick up to four days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria. However, illnesses can start anywhere from one to 10 days after exposure.

Individuals are advised to contact their healthcare provider if diarrhea lasts for more than three days or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool or so much vomiting that they cannot keep liquids down and pass very little urine.

A type of kidney failure can develop in individuals diagnosed with STEC.

No deaths and no cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported thus far with this outbreak, according to the CDC.

The CDC declared over in July 2018 a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections linked to Romaine lettuce that resulted in the deaths of five people and the hospitalizations of 96, including 27 people who developed kidney failure.

Some 210 people from 36 states, including four in Massachusetts, became infected with STEC during that outbreak between March 13 and June 6, 2018.
The CDC reports that five people have died and 197 have been hospitalized in the United States, in the largest incidence of E. coli since the 2006 North American E. coli outbreak.