The Chicago Department of Health urged anyone who ate a McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger and experienced symptoms of E. coli to seek medical care amid a U.S. outbreak that has sickened dozens and led to at least one death.
The Chicago Department of Public Health said that while no E. coli cases linked to the outbreak have been reported in Chicago or Illinois to date, it is aware of cases that have been reported across the United States.
“McDonald's is no longer offering the Quarter Pounder hamburger in some areas to protect its customers, but the California Department of Public Health recommends seeking medical attention if you eat a McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger and experience symptoms of E. coli such as a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, excessive vomiting, or vomiting,” the department said Wednesday. : “Diarrhea or bloody stool.” Most people recover from the infection without treatment, but some may develop serious kidney problems. People at increased risk for E. coli infection include children younger than 5 years, older adults older than 65 years, and people with weakened immune systems.”
McDonald's spokesmen said Wednesday that E. coli bacteria is a difficult pathogen to trace, but they are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the ongoing outbreak.
In a letter to customers, the company said it had removed certain ingredients from its menus at some locations “out of an abundance of caution” while investigators work to determine the exact source.
In total, 49 people have been infected with the disease so far in 10 US states, including Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Ten people were taken to hospital and at least one death was reported.
“All of those interviewed reported eating at McDonald's before the onset of their illness, and specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger,” the CDC said in an alert Tuesday, calling it a “rapid outbreak investigation.”
Investigators have focused their investigation on two ingredients so far: fresh chopped onions and fresh beef patties.
The Food and Drug Administration said the outbreak was likely caused by sliced onions in a Quarter Pounder from a supplier serving three distribution centers.
The CDC reported that “McDonald's has recalled the ingredients for these burgers, and they will not be available for sale in some states.”
Over the past two weeks, window illnesses have been reported so far, and McDonald's spokespeople said about 1 million Quarter Pounder burgers would have been sold at the affected locations.
“Food safety is a top priority,” Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, told TODAY on Wednesday.
“It's a top priority for our suppliers as well. This is something we talk about as everyone's business,” he said.
What to know about the outbreak:
Which countries have been affected so far?
Outbreaks have been reported in at least 10 US states so far, with most cases reported in Colorado and Nebraska, although several Midwestern states have also reported cases.
Of the cases reported so far, 26 have been reported in Colorado, along with one death, and nine have been reported in Nebraska. Other states reporting cases include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
However, the CDC warns that the outbreak may not be limited to states where illnesses have been detected so far “and the true number of patients is likely much higher than the number reported.” This is because illnesses can take a long time to be reported and many people recover from E. coli without needing treatment.
Here's the full number of people who have gotten sick by state so far:
(Note: Deaths in Colorado are not included in the numbers below)
The CDC indicated that the ages of patients ranged from 13 to 88 years.
What components are behind the outbreak and which sites do you remove?
The exact source of the outbreak remains unclear, but investigators believe it is likely linked to either fresh onions or fresh beef patties used in the Quarter Pounder.
McDonald's said in its statement that the removal of ingredients was “out of an abundance of caution,” but included locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and New Mexico. , and Oklahoma.
“Preliminary traceability and distribution information reviewed by the FDA shows that cut onions served in the Quarter Pounder are a likely source of contamination,” the CDC stated. “The FDA is working quickly to confirm that these onions are the source of this outbreak and to determine whether these onions were provided or sold at other businesses.”
Symptoms to watch for
The CDC urged anyone who experiences symptoms of E. coli after eating at McDonald's to contact their health care provider.
According to the CDC, most people infected with E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually appear within three to four days of ingesting the bacteria, and most people recover within five to seven days.
Symptoms include:
Diarrhea and fever higher than 102 degrees F Diarrhea for more than 3 days without improvement Vomiting so severe that you cannot keep fluids in your body Signs of dehydration, such as: feeling dizzy when standing
Some people may also develop serious kidney problems known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which requires hospitalization. The CDC noted that at least one child experienced this symptom in connection with this outbreak.
What is Escherichia coli?
According to the Mayo Clinic, E. coli stands for Escherichia coli, a bacteria that normally lives “in the intestines of healthy people and animals.”
“Most types of E. coli are harmless or cause diarrhea for a relatively brief period. But some strains… can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting,” the clinic stated.
People can be exposed to the bacteria through contaminated water or food, especially raw vegetables or undercooked ground beef.
Food safety concerns
The McDonald's outbreak comes amid a number of recent large recalls, including one involving multiple brands of frozen patties and another involving hundreds of meat and chicken products.
So how important is it?
“It's very troubling for people like me who have spent 35 years doing research,” said Trevor Suslow, a food safety expert at the University of California, Davis. “There are many different recalls and outbreaks going on right now and each one is somewhat unique, but they often share common characteristics of deficiencies in awareness and prevention regarding cleaning and sanitation.
Experts recommend keeping up with the latest news and recalls from the USDA, FDA, and CDC.
“It's usually a bacterial recall, and those are the things we care about most,” said James Ohmke, an economist and professor at Northwestern University. “It could be as simple as a breach of protocol.”
Ohmke says government agencies have gotten better over the years at identifying outbreaks more quickly.
“The U.S. food supply chain serves more than a billion meals a day, or about a billion meals a day, and most of them are safe meals,” Ohmke said.
