United States
Update October 04, 2022
CDC announced that this outbreak is over, as of October 04, 2022. More than 80% of sick people who were interviewed by public health officials reported eating at Wendy’s restaurants in several states before getting sick. Many of them ate burgers and sandwiches with romaine lettuce, but the specific ingredient that caused the outbreak could not be confirmed.
As of October 4, 2022, a total of 109 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 were reported from 6 states (IN, KY, MI, NY, OH and PA). 52 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2022, to August 17, 2022.
Source: CDC
Update September 1, 2022
As of August 31, 2022, a total of 97 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 6 states (IN, KY, MI, NY, OH and PA). 43 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2022, to August 15, 2022. A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating burgers and sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants before getting sick. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: CDC
Update August 25, 2022
As of August 25, 2022, a total of 84 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 4 states (IN, MI, OH and PA). 38 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2022, to August 9, 2022. A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating burgers and sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants before getting sick. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: CDC
Update August 19, 2022
As of August 18, 2022, a total of 37 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 4 states (IN, MI, OH and PA). 10 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2022, to August 8, 2022.
A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania before getting sick. Based on this information, Wendy’s is taking the precautionary measure of removing the romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in that region. Wendy’s uses a different type of romaine lettuce for salads. Investigators are working to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak and whether romaine lettuce used in Wendy’s sandwiches was served or sold at other businesses. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: CDC
August 17, 2022
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the FDA, and the USDA-FSIS are collecting different types of data to identify the food source of a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. So far, illnesses have only been reported from Michigan and Ohio. A single food has not yet been identified as the source and this investigation is ongoing.
Michigan and Ohio have both reported large increases in the number of E. coli infections in their states. As of August 16, 2022, a total of 29 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 2 states (MI and OH). 9 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 26, 2022, to August 6, 2022
To prevent getting sick from E. coli, CDC advises following these 4 steps when handling or preparing food: clean, separate, cook, and chill.
- Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
- Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
- Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F (like a hot car or picnic), refrigerate within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
In case you are experiencing E. coli symptoms such as watery diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting; stomach cramps; and mild fever, it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.
Source:
www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2022/o157h7-08-22/index.html
