St. Louis E. coli Outbreak Update: 30 Confirmed Cases
The investigation of the E. coli outbreak in the St. Louis, MO area continues, and new confirmed cases are added almost daily. There are now 30 people with confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. All of these people were sickened by E. coli bacteria with matching DNA fingerprints. Most of them ate food from a Schnucks salad bar.
Contact our E. coli lawyers for a free consultation regarding a Schnucks E. coli lawsuit.
One of the confirmed cases is not from the St. Louis area, but from Boone County. That person reported spending time in St. Louis during the timeframe established by the investigative team for the outbreak. Investigators continue to work with public health officials to determine whether three other specimens previously submitted from Boone County are connected to the outbreak. These specimens tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.
DHSS continues to work closely with a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC has set up a case study by contacting individuals in neighborhoods where patients have been identified. The case control study will enable investigators to compare data from participants with those who have become sick.
DHSS has tested 55 food samples obtained from Schnucks salad bars and ill person’s homes. None of the samples tested positive for E. coli. The search for the source of the outbreak now involves the inspection of facilities that may have been part of the distribution chain supplying salad bar items to Schnucks. The FDA is assisting with the investigation of these facilities because some of them are located in other states.
North Carolina Fair E. coli Outbreak Update and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Information
The N.C. Division of Public Health reports that it is now investigating 24 cases related to the E. coli outbreak associated with attending the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Nine E. coli cases are confirmed; 15 cases are still being investigated. Some of the children have also developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, discussed below.
The latest numbers and counties involved include the following:
Wake – 11
Sampson – 7
Cleveland – 1
Durham – 1
Johnston – 1
Orange – 1
Wilson – 2
Our E. coli lawyers are investigating this outbreak and are available for a free consultation.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome from an E. coli Infection
E. coli infections can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the leading causes of kidney failure in the United States. Young children, the elderly, and people with other medical conditions are greatest risk of developing HUS, but we have represented young, otherwise healthy, older children and adults who developed HUS. If not treated very soon after symptoms manifest, HUS can lead to death, so it is essential that people with E. coli receive prompt medical treatment. However, HUS can be extremely fast moving, too fast for early treatment. We say this because parents absolutely should not feel that it is in any way their fault that their child is severely sickened with E. coli-HUS.
Clues that a person is developing HUS include decreased frequency of urination and anemia, which may result in fatigue and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. People with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys may stop working and they may develop other serious problems, including stroke, blindness, heart attack, pancreatitis, sepsis and respiratory failure. HUS patients fight for their lives, sometimes for weeks or months.
HUS can cause permanent damage and always involves the risk of future kidney problems. Those legally responsible for E. coli and HUS should be held accountable for all past, present and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages caused by the E. coli poisoning.
E. coli O157:NM Outbreak in Michigan Linked to McNees Meats
The E. coli O157:NM outbreak in Michigan has sent 6 people to the hospital. E. coli O157 can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), life-threatening complications of an E. coli infection that can cause kidney failure, central nervous system damage, heart failure, pancreatitis and other serious health problems. Read more about E. coli O157:NM, TTP and HUS. To date, five confirmed cases of E. coli O157:NM are confirmed and four are suspected in the following Michigan counties: Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac.
Our attorneys are investigating the outbreak, which has been linked to ground beef products from McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC, in North Branch, Michigan. In response to the outbreak, McNees Meats recalled about 2,200 pounds of ground beef that was distributed through the company store at 6267 Old State Road, North Branch, MI, and also sold to retail establishments and restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Mich.
The list of recalled McNees ground beef products includes:
- 1 and 10-lb. clear packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”
- 1 to1.5-lb., approximate weight clear plastic bags of “McNees Ground beef patties.”
- 1-lb. packages of “McNees Ground Round.”
- 1 and 2-lb packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk” sold in red and white plastic bags.
People who have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak may be able to file an E. coli lawsuit and recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. The E. coli attorneys at Pritzker Olsen have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of E. coli victims and victims of other food borne pathogens.
Contact the E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen for a free case evaluation >>
Palmyra Bologna E. coli O157:H7 and Food Poisoning Lawsuit Information
On March 22, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that an E. coli food poisoning outbreak has been associated with Seltzer’s Lebanon bologna products made by Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc., located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania company issued a bologna recall on 23,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna products, marketed under the label of Seltzer’s Beef Lebanon Bologna, due to possible contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. As of March 22, 2011, the Center for Disease Controls (CDC) reported 14 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from Pennsylvania (6), Maryland (3), New Jersey (2), Ohio (2) and North Carolina (1). Our E. coli lawyers have won money for food poisoning victims from New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
One of the issues presented in multistate E. coli outbreak cases is in which state a victim should file a lawsuit. This is called venue, and possible venues often include the state where the food product was produced, the state where the contaminated food was sold to the victim and the state where the victim resides. In addition, your attorney will need to look at whether your E. coli claim should be filed in state or federal court. The facts of each case determine which state and which court is best.
This can have a significant impact on the amount of money recovered by an E. coli victim. Our attorneys have been filing E. coli lawsuits for many years and have the experience to choose the best venue for our clients.
For a free consultation regarding a bologna E. coli lawsuit, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete our free case consultation form. PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is one of very few law firms that litigates foodborne illness cases nationally. We only file a class action lawsuit if it is in the best interests of our clients. We would be happy to discuss this with you.
