Thursday, February 04, 2021

CDC Investigating A Multi-State Outbreak Of E. coli O157:H7




#15,783

While the COVID pandemic continues to garner the bulk of our attention, other public health threats have not gone away. Yesterday the CDC announced a new, multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, which has already claimed 1 life, and hospitalized 9 (3 with complete kidney failure). 

In 2019 we followed a high profile outbreak among children exposed to animals at the San Diego Fair petting zoo, which sadly claimed the life of one child. 

In 2020, the CDC investigated 4 E. coli outbreaks:
The O157:H7 serotype is the most common in the United States, although there are about 700 strains. Most produce little or no symptoms, but a few - including O157:H7 - are pathogenic, and can cause serious illness.  The CDC describes these pathogenic forms as:
Pathogenic E. coli strains are categorized into pathotypes. Six pathotypes are associated with diarrhea and collectively are referred to as diarrheagenic E. coli.
  • Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)—STEC may also be referred to as Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). This pathotype is the one most commonly heard about in the news in association with foodborne outbreaks.
  • Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
  • Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)
  • Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
  • Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
  • Diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC)
A decade ago, one of the biggest outbreaks in recent memory was the sudden 2011 outbreak of EHEC enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (STEC O104:H4) - linked to imported sprouts - that sickened more than 4000 people (causing more than 50 fatalities) across 13 nations in Europe.

A much smaller outbreak occurred here in 2009 (see E. Coli: In the Raw (cookie dough)), that involved 77 patients across 30 states - and raised awareness over the dangers of eating raw pre-packaged cookie dough. 

Sometimes, however, the cause of these outbreaks go unidentified.  While the source of this latest outbreak remains undetermined, the CDC's disease detectives are working to solve the mystery. 

CDC investigating multistate E. coli outbreak with unknown food source
Media Statement

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286


A CDC Investigation Notice about a new multistate outbreak of E. coli O157: E. coli Outbreak with Unknown Food Source.

Key Points:
  • CDC and state and federal public health and regulatory officials are working to identify the food source of a newly identified multistate outbreak of coli O157:H7 infections.
  • 16 illnesses have been reported from 5 states: Arkansas (6), New York (1), Oklahoma (5), Virginia (2), and Washington (2).
  • Many of the illnesses have been severe. Among 12 people with information available, 9 have been hospitalized. Three people developed kidney failure. One death has been reported from Washington.
  • The strain causing this outbreak has previously caused other illnesses linked to a variety of contaminated foods and water, including romaine lettuce and recreational water.
  • Public health officials are interviewing sick people to find out what they ate the week before their illness started.
  • CDC will provide updates when more information is available.

CDC’s Advice:
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these severe coli symptoms:
  • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
  • Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
  • Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Not urinating (peeing) much
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Dizziness when standing up
  • If you have any coli symptoms (mild or severe), help CDC solve this outbreak by reporting your illness to your local health department and answering their questions about your illness and the foods you ate before you got sick.
  • Follow food safety steps to prevent getting sick from coli.
About E. coli:
  • Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
  • Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
  • Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
  • Some people may develop a type of kidney failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
  • Antibiotics are not recommended for patients with suspected coli infections until diagnostic testing can be performed and E. coli infection is ruled out.
  • For more information, see the coli Questions and Answers page.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.
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