E coli Cases Linked to NW Michigan Fair Grand Traverse County
The Grand Traverse County Health Department reported three cases of shiga toxin-producing E coli. The victims are all children and they range in age from 5 to 15 years-old. The one thing all three kids have in common is that they all attended the Northwestern Michigan Fair, in Grand Traverse County, August 9-13.
The three cases were diagnosed as probable E coli infections between August 15-17 when the children were treated for symptoms of E coli, including bloody diarrhea. One of the children is still hospitalized.
Shiga toxin-producing E coli is a type of enterohemorrhagic E coli bacteria that can cause illness ranging from mild intestinal disease to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure. Typically, symptoms of E coli include severe abdominal cramping, watery or bloody diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting, lethargy and a low-grade fever.
E coli is frequently associated with the consumption of raw milk, unpasteurized apple juice or undercooked beef, but it can be spread through fecal contamination and oral transmission.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads to anemia, blood clots and damage to blood vessel walls. HUS generally occurs around the eighth day after an E coli infection presents as diarrhea.
Children are at the greatest risk of developing HUS. Approximately 15% of children under ten who contract an E coli infection develop HUS.
E coli 0157 causes about 90% of all HUS cases. In several E coli outbreaks, people who received antibiotics had a higher risk of kidney failure or death. If E coli O157 is found in the culture, the CDC recommends avoiding treatment with antibiotics.
E coli poisoning has the potential for serious complications. It is vital to retain experienced representation to ensure that you obtain the needed and deserved compensation.
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a leading E coli litigation law firm. Fred Pritzker has been interviewed by CNN, CBS News, Fox News, Associated Press and others. Once retained, we will immediately start our own investigation into your case. Call 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online consultation form.
Ground Beef E. coli Testing Law Would List Habitual Defenders on Public Web Site
So far this year, U.S. consumers have been dealt at least one dozen ground beef outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, including the current Fairbank Farms ground beef E. coli outbreak that is still a threat to make people gravely ill.
Some of the more than 500,000 pounds of recalled E. coli ground beef related to this multi-state outbreak is believed to still be lurking in the home freezers of people unaware of the danger. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys has been in contact with E. coli HUS victims of this outbreak and is accepting cases. If you or a loved one has been affected this outbreak, which already has killed two people, contact an E. coli lawyer at 1-888-377-8900 or complete one of our online contact and information forms.
The crush of hamburger E. coli outbreaks this year and last year has caught the attention of many in Washington, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who has introduced a law intended to end a dangerous practice in the meat industry that was exposed last month by a story in the New York Times. As a law firm dedicated to the prevention of all foodborne illness, we applaud her effort.
During a 2008 industry-wide sampling of all ground beef produced, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that 0.32 percent of ground beef was contaminated with E. coli - that’s nearly 1 in every 300 samples.
Senator Gillibrand’s proposed E. coli Eradication Act would require meat plants that produce the cuts and trimmings that make ground beef to test their products regularly. And when the ingredients arrive at a grinding plant, they would be tested again before all the components are ground together. Currently, according to the Times story, it’s typical for grinding facilities to have unwritten agreements with slaughterhouses NOT to test the incoming beef cuts. That way, contaminated meat can’t be traced to the supplier if E. coli is found in the finished ground beef.
For those facilities where source trim and grinding occurs at the same facility, the legislation requires one test of the source trim and another test of the final ground product.
Gillibrand’s legislation also calls for habitual violators to be listed on a public website. Any slaughterhouse or processing establishment that produces or distributes trim with positive E. coli test results for 3 consecutive days, or more than 10 times per year, will be deemed a habitual violator. The bill also establishes enforcement action against plants that fail to test or fail to notify the USDA of positive E. coli results.
Family Suspects Cow Show in Tri Cities Child E. coli Case
Two young children in extreme northeast Tennessee are receiving hospital treatment for E. coli poisoning and public health officials are studying whether a common source caused the illnesses.
TriCities.com, a news website in the Tri Cities area of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, is reporting that the first child was admitted to Johnson City Medical Center about four weeks ago and is still in the pediatric intensive care unit.
The second child, a 4-year-old boy, was hospitalized at the same medical center one week ago and was scheduled late this week to receive a blood transfusion. Family members told TriCities.com that they believe the boy contracted the potentially deadly bacteria at a cow exhibit at the Appalachian Fair.
The Tennessee Health Department and the Northeast Tennessee Health Office are investigating
“We have not identified a source,” Northeast Tennessee Health Office spokeswoman Beth Rader told TriCities.com. “The investigation is ongoing.”
E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been caused in the past by human contact with animals at petting zoos and livestock exhibits — most notably in recent months at the Western National Stock Show in Denver. The bacteria grows in the guts of cattle and other animals and is spread through contact with their feces, which people encounter unknowingly with their shoes or hands in areas where the animals are kept.
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of the Western National Stock Show and firm president Fred Pritzker has said that outbreak was preventable. Protecting public health at such exhibits requires installation of easily accessible hand washing facilities and ample signage warning attendees of the dangers of bacterial illness.
Children are at particular risk at these shows because they have more hand-to-mouth contact than adults. E. coli O157:H7 produces a toxin in humans that attacks red blood cells and can lead to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS, the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the U.S.
To contact an attorney at our firm who is experienced in protecting the legal rights of people victimized in HUS E. coli outbreaks, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900. We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims.
E. coli Treatment
Most people recover from E. coli infections without any special treatment or medication after 5-10 days. The best treatment is to get plenty of fluids and sleep. Antibiotics have not been found to be of any benefit in the treatment of E. coli. Anti-diarrheal agents such as loperamide (Imodium®) should also be avoided according to the CDC.
There has been a lot of concern that the use of antibiotics to treat E. coli infections can cause an increased risk for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney problems. A 2000 study by Wong et. al. (The risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome after antibiotic treatment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections) reported that there did appear to be an increased risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome if treated with antibiotics. A more recent study that compiled research on hemolytic uremic syndrome and E. coli O157:H7 antibiotic treatment by Safdar et. al. (Risk of hemolytic uremic syndromoe after antibiotic treatment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 enteritis: a meta-analysis) found that there was in fact on apparent statistical increase of HUS infections when antibiotics were used for E. coli O157:H7. You should consult with your doctor regarding E. coli treatment and the use of antiboitics.
For information on the treatment of hemolytic uremic syndrome see Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice and represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online contact form.
