In the wake of a deadly E. Coli outbreak in the U.S., The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims to have traced back the root cause of the crisis to a specific hamburger being sold at McDonald’s.
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CDC Warns Of E. Coli Outbreak Linked To Quarter Pounder Burger
The quarter pounder is a popular hamburger sold by McDonald’s globally and throughout the U.S. According to the CDC, “It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.” However, an ongoing investigation is in motion as CDC health officials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) work together to determine and confirm the contaminated ingredient making people sick.
Epidemiologic data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hints that the onions being used in the quarter pounder hamburgers at McDonald’s may be the culprit. As cases continue to pile up due to the widespread McDonald’s E.coli outbreak, the fast food restaurant is taking action to ensure the health and safety American citizens. Most notably, the CDC reports, “McDonald’s has pulled ingredients for these burgers, and they won’t be available for sale in some states.”
So far, E.coli has led to one death, with 49 reported cases in 10 states across the U.S.
E.coli Facts You Should Know About
E.coli is a type of bacteria. They are commonly found in food, water, and the intestines of humans and animals. There are different types of E.coli bacteria; some are harmless, while others can make you sick, leading to diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and even kidney failure in severe cases. The E. coli O157:H7, a deadly strain of this bacteria, is responsible for the ongoing outbreak. Here are some important things to know about E.coli:
- An E.coli infection is mainly transmitted from the consumption of contaminated food or coming into contact with an infected person.
- Symptoms appear after a day or two after exposure to the bacteria. E.coli poisoning typically leads to vomiting, diarrhea (that may be bloody), dehydration, stomach cramps, and sometimes a low grade fever.
- According to the CDC, there are 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths due to food poisoning annually in the U.S.
- The CDC reports that the type of bacteria causing the McDonald’s outbreak (E. coli O157:H7) leads to 74,000 infections, more than 2,000 hospitalizations, and 61 deaths annually in the U.S.
Affected individuals are advised to seek medical attention immediately. “If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s, seek health care and tell your provider about what you ate.” says the CDC.
