Our national food safety law firm is investigating an E. coli O157 outbreak in Portland, Oregon, which has been associated with Montessori of Alameda, a preschool, according to the Multnomah County Health Department. These cases are part of an E. coli outbreak linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products. At least 7 children have developed a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Our E.coli lawyers filed a lawsuit against The SoyNut Butter Company for a child with E. coli-HUS who ate an I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter product at a daycare in Arizona. Our Ecoli lawyers are available for a free consultation.
To date, there are 6 possible cases, one adult and 5 children, all preschoolers. One child has been hospitalized, and as of March 10, 2017, was still in the hospital.
The six patients have laboratory-confirmed Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections. This bacteria produces compounds called Shiga toxins, which attack the lining of the intestines and also destroy red blood cells. Those red blood cells can clog the kidneys, and may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
Oregon E. coli O157 Outbreak Investigation
Three of the patient samples have been typed; they have been sickened with E. coli O157. The H variant (which establishes the antigen of the bacteria, such as H7) has not yet been established. The Health Department is investigating the source of this outbreak, including whether there may be a link to the national recall of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products.
Dr. Paul Lewis, Multnomah County Health Officer said in a statement, “we believe at this point, risk to the general public is low as we have no reported cases outside this location in Multnomah County. We are communicating directly with parents at this school because of the serious nature of this disease.”
I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
A link between the illness at Montessori of Alameda and I.M. Health SoyNut Butter products has not been made. We are including this information on this outbreak as a public service.
I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products, including granola, have been recalled and are linked to a nine-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people. Two children in Clackamas County are included in that outbreak, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Those siblings are under the age of 18; both were hospitalized because their illnesses were so serious.
All I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products, I.M. Healthy Granola products have been recalled. On March 10, 2017, that recall was expanded to include and Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter.
Can I Sue for an E. coli Infection?
Yes, if your case can be tied to a contaminated product. E. coli infections can have serious and lifelong consequences. If a person with an E. oli illness develops hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), they can suffer kidney failure and need dialysis or even a kidney transplant.
The symptoms of an E.coli infection include painful stomach and abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody and/or watery, and a mild fever. Sometimes the person experiences nausea and vomiting. These symptoms usually begin 3 or 4 days after exposure to the pathogenic bacteria.
If an E. coli infection is improperly treated with antibiotics, or if the patient is 5 years old or younger, HUS can develop. The symptoms of HUS include greatly reduced urine output or no urine output, lethargy and tiredness, a skin rash pale skin, easy bruising and bleeding from the nose or mouth. Anyone with these symptoms should be taken to a doctor immediately since HUS can be life-threatening.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with an E. coli infection or HUS, contact our experienced attorneys for help to protect your legal rights. These E. coli lawsuits should be filed by lawyers like ours who understand the illness with all of its complications and have represented clients in similar situations. Call the law firm of Pritzker Hageman at 1-888-377-8900 or fill out our free online consultation form. Someone from our office will return your call soon.