Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach, September 22, 2006
NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes. The content of this document has not been revised since its original release and therefore may no longer be up to date.
As of 1 PM (ET) September 22, 2006, Friday, 166 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 25 states.
Among the ill persons, 88 (53%) were hospitalized, 27 (16%) developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), and an adult in Wisconsin died. One hundred eighteen (71%) were female and 12 (7%) were children under 5 years old. The proportion of people who developed HUS was 31% in children (<18 years old), 7% in persons 18 to 59 years old, and 16% in persons 60 years old or older. Among ill persons who provided the date when their illnesses began, 90% became ill between August 19 and September 5.
Two deaths among suspect cases have been reported. Suspect cases are not known to have been infected with the outbreak strain, so are not included in the confirmed case count. Idaho is investigating a suspect case in a 2-year-old child with HUS who died on September 20 and reportedly had recently consumed fresh spinach. E. coli O157 has not been detected in the child.Maryland is investigating a suspect case in an elderly woman who died on September 13 and had recently consumed fresh spinach. E. coli O157 was cultured from her stool, but “DNA fingerprinting” to determine whether it is the outbreak strain has not been possible.
The states that have reported cases are Arizona (4 cases), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Idaho (4), Illinois (1), Indiana (8), Kentucky (8), Maryland (3), Maine (3), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (8), New Mexico (5), Nevada (1), New York (11), Ohio (20), Oregon (5), Pennsylvania (8), Tennessee (1), Utah (17), Virginia (2), Washington (3), Wisconsin (42), and Wyoming (1).
CDC Advice for Consumers
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For more information about the outbreak, about the investigation, and for prevention guidance, see E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak from Fresh Spinach.
Page last modified September 22, 2006
Content source: National Center for Infectious Diseases