The state health department said Friday that Michigan has 43 cases of the E. coli strain being investigated in four states, with more than half of Michigan’s patients hospitalized.
The health department said more than 55% of people who fell ill reported eating at Wendy’s restaurant locations.
One specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of the disease, but investigations are focusing on sandwiches topped with romaine lettuce.
“There are currently no recommendations to avoid eating at Wendy’s, while the restaurant works with local public health departments to remove potentially implicated products,” the state health department said in a news release.
Where is the E. coli outbreak?
As of Friday, Michigan had 108 cases of E. coli, of which 43 were confirmed to be E. coli O157, the strain being investigated in outbreaks in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana, state health spokeswoman Chelsea Wuth said. Department.
She said that whole genome sequencing has been done in 43 of the Michigan cases.
State and federal health officials said there had been no deaths.
An Ohio woman sued Wendy’s for her illness on Friday, which she said had to be hospitalized for eight days after eating at Wendy’s on August 1.
Local, state and federal health officials are working to determine the source of the illness.
The CDC said Wendy’s is taking “precautionary measures” to remove the romaine lettuce used in sandwiches from restaurants in the region and that it uses a different type of romaine lettuce for salads.
It said Wendy’s is cooperating fully with the investigation.
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The CDC also isn’t advising people to avoid eating at Wendy’s restaurants or asking people to stop eating romaine lettuce.
“At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that romaine lettuce sold in grocery stores, served in other restaurants or in people’s homes, is associated with this outbreak,” the CDC said.
“Investigators are working to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak, and whether the romaine lettuce served at Wendy’s restaurants was served or sold at other businesses.”
18 Michigan Jurisdictions With Cases
The state health department said the onset of the disease in Michigan ranges from late July to early August in 18 jurisdictions.
Those jurisdictions are: Detroit and Alleghen, Branch, Clinton, Genesee, Gratiott, Jackson, Kent, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ogema, Ottawa, Saginaw and Wayne Counties.
According to the health department, people in the age group of 6 to 94 years have been affected.
It said four cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been identified, a serious complication that occurs in some people who have been exposed to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is diagnosed. The CDC states that hemolytic uremic syndrome is a type of kidney failure.
“In addition, we urge residents to take appropriate precautions to handle food and to practice safe food preparation,” said Dr. Alexis Travis, senior deputy director of the Public Health Administration at the state’s Department of Health.
Health officials said people experiencing symptoms of an E. coli infection should consult a health care provider as soon as possible to see if testing is recommended. Health care providers should contact the local department to report suspected or confirmed STEC cases.
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Symptoms of E. coli
Michigan health officials are reminding residents to seek medical help if they experience symptoms of E. coli, including:
- Severe cramping in the abdomen.
- Diarrhea, often bloody.
- Vomiting.
- Other gastrointestinal distress.
- fever.
Symptoms usually appear three to four days after exposure, but can appear within a day or up to 10 days. They usually improve after five to seven days.
Infections can be mild, severe or even life-threatening. Young children and older adults may experience severe illness.
The state health department said that about 5-10% of people diagnosed with this infection develop hemolytic uremic syndrome. It usually appears seven days after symptoms begin, often when the diarrhea is improving.
Symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome may include:
- Decreased frequency of urination.
- fatigue.
- Loss of color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids.
How to prevent E. coli infection
- Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in several situations: before and after meals; Using the bathroom or changing diapers and after exposure to animals or their environments, such as on farms, pet zoos, fairs, and even backyards.
- Wash fruits and vegetables under running water.
- Marinate foods in the refrigerator, not on or off the counter. Do not reuse sauce on cooked food used to marinate raw meat or poultry.
- Do not place cooked food on a plate that previously contained raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs.
- Do not allow raw meat, poultry, eggs or cooked food to sit at room temperature for more than two hours before placing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Cook the meat thoroughly.
- Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized juices such as fresh apple cider.
- Avoid swallowing water while swimming or playing in lakes, ponds, streams, swimming pools and backyard “kiddie” pools.
Contact Christina Hall: [email protected] Follow him on Twitter: @challreporter.
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