There have been 49 illnesses and one death tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders so far.
After the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent out a food safety alert on Tuesday, McDonald’s is getting a lot of attention. Nearly 50 cases of E. coli, a very bad type of food poisoning, were linked to its Quarter Pounders, which led to the warning.
Because of this, McDonald’s has taken two items out of shops in the affected areas: “fresh slivered onions” and “quarter-pound beef patties.” In a statement, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said, “It’s important to note that the majority of states and the majority of menu items are not affected.”
When did the E. coli strain start to spread at McDonald’s?
September 27 was the date of the first case report. Colorado’s state health officials told the CDC on October 10 that there had been an unusually high number of E. coli cases. This led the CDC to start its review on October 15.
The CDC said that new illnesses might not have been reported yet because it takes three to four weeks to be sure that a sick person is part of a cluster.
The states that have been affected are.
The CDC says that so far, 49 people in 10 states have become sick. Most of the cases have been recorded in Colorado (26 cases) and Nebraska (9 cases). Cases have also been found in Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.
Ten people have been taken to the hospital, including a child who got hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease that affects the kidneys. One older person in Colorado has died, which is very sad.
What Will Happen If You Have E. Coli?
When you eat E. coli, the signs usually show up three to four days later and can be different, but they usually include:
People with diarrhea often have watery or bloody stools. The diarrhea can be mild to serious.
Cramping in the stomach: This usually feels like pain and cramping in the gut area.
Feeling sick and throwing up: Some people may have these symptoms.
A lot of people feel tired or sluggish.
Fever: Sometimes a fever will show up.
Within 5 to 7 days, most people get better without any medicine. But some people may get hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is very bad for the kidneys and may need to be hospitalized. It’s important to see a doctor right away if your symptoms get worse or if serious problems happen.
