E. coli Outbreak Linked to unidentified source

United States

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, with 67 patients reported sick. The source of the outbreak remains unidentified. The locations of the 67 patients and whether any have required hospitalization have also not been disclosed.

The FDA announced the outbreak on December 4, 2024, and has since initiated traceback efforts to identify the source of the contamination. However, the agency has yet to report what food or foods are being traced. No food samples or environmental swabs have been tested at this time.

The outbreak was discovered during routine surveillance by the FDA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that for every patient identified in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, 26 go undiagnosed. This is due to some patients not seeking medical attention and others not being specifically tested for E. coli. Therefore, the actual number of patients affected by this outbreak could be significantly higher. The FDA continues to investigate the source of the outbreak and will provide updates as more information becomes available.