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Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach, October 3, 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) October 3, 2006, Tuesday, 192 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 26 states.

Among the ill persons, 98 (51%) were hospitalized, 30 (16%) developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), and an adult in Wisconsin died. One hundred thirty-six (71%) were female and 20 (11%) were children under 5 years old. The proportion of persons who developed HUS was 28% in children (<18 years old), 9% in persons 18 to 59 years old, and 14% in persons 60 years old or older. Among ill persons who provided the date when their illnesses began, 80% became ill between August 19 and September 5. The peak time when illnesses began was August 30 to September 1 -- 31% of persons with the outbreak strain became ill on one of those 3 days.

Map of Affected States
View enlarged map to see the number of persons reported with the outbreak strain from each state

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 been detected in the child’s stool sample. “DNA fingerprinting” tests are underway to determine whether it is the outbreak strain. 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” has not been possible.

E. coli O157 was isolated from 11 packages of spinach supplied by patients living in 9 states. All packages were marketed as baby spinach and labeled with the same brand name. The “DNA fingerprints” ofall 11 of these E. coli match that of the outbreak strain.

CDC Advice for Consumers

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More Information

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 October 3, 2006
Content source: National Center for Infectious Diseases


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