Washington E. coli Outbreak: 9 Lab-Confirmed E. coli Cases in the State of Washington Associated with Consumption of Lettuce

Pritzker | Ruohonen, one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of E. coli litigation, is providing the information below as a public service. The firm has a national reputation, and lawyers at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. In recognigion of their accomplishments, both Fred Pritzker and Rich Ruohonen have been named "Super Lawyers" by a state legal magazine. 9 cases of E. coli in the state of Washington have been associated with consumption of lettuce. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli after eating lettuce, you may contact Pritzker | Ruohonen toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form for review by a lawyer at the firm.

E. coli infections detected in two Puget Sound counties
Several cases identified in Thurston and Pierce Counties

June 5, 2008 - According to the Washington State Department of Health, 9 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli infection have been associated with contaminated romaine lettuce. A tenth case may be linked but was not tested. All cases involved people from Thurston and Pierce Counties.

The Washington State Department of Health had this to say about the Puget Sound E. coli Outbreak:

In May, four cases were identified in Thurston County, and six in Pierce
Some of the people infected were hospitalized
This specific type of E. coli O157:H7 is not rare
There’s no evidence that illnesses in other states are connected to the Puget Sound area cases
State health officials are working with local partners in Thurston and Pierce counties on the disease investigation.
The outbreak was associated with bagged, commercial romaine lettuce that was distributed to food service establishments.
The Food and Drug Administration is working to trace the source of the lettuce.

Additional information has been released regarding the outbreak:

Five of the Pierce County E. coli cases have been laboratory-confirmed.
A lab test was not done to confirm the sixth case.
The Pierce County cases may be associated with a restaurant and an educational institution. Because the outbreak is deemed over, health officials are not releasing the names of either, but Internet accounts of the outbreak indicate that some of those sickened may have eaten salads at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
All four Thurston County E. coli cases have been laboratory-confirmed.
Three of the people sickened attend Capital High School in Olympia and ate salads in the school cafeteria.
The fourth person attends Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Olympia and ate a salad there.

If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with E. coli, an experienced E. coli lawyer should be contacted. Our lawyers have recovered millions for victims of E. coli outbreaks. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form. Read our press release entitled, "E. coli Outbreak Associated with Lettuce Prompts Call for Better Sanitation."

Washington E. coli - Lawyer and Lawsuit - Lettuce E. coli Outbreak
Puget Sound, Thurston County, Pierce County

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