Minnesota E. coli Outbreak - Minnesota E. coli Lawyer

MINNESOTA E. COLI OUTBREAK LINKED TO GROUND BEEF SOLD AT LUNDS / BYERLY'S - MINNESOTA E. COLI LAWYER AND ATTORNEY: Minnesota E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker has extensive experience with Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) lawsuits. He has obtained settlements in excess of one million dollars for victims of Minnesota E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. He has gained a national reputation in this area and has been interviewed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal,and other publications. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has been included in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named, once again, a "Minnesota Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.

To contact Fred Pritzker, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the Pritzker | Ruohonen online consultation form.

Below is information regarding the Taco John's E. coli outbreak of 2006.

Taco John's E. coli Outbreak Update
As of December 18, MDH has received reports of 37 probable cases of E. coli O157 infection associated with eating at Taco Johns restaurants, primarily in Albert Lea and Austin. Nine of those cases are culture-confirmed. Eight cases have been hospitalized and one case developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Health Officials Investigate E. coli O157 Cases in Southern Minnesota
Minnesota E. coli cases match those in Iowa; distinct from cases in Northeast U.S.

December 13, 2006 - Minnesota health officials have confirmed today that five cases of E. coli O157 infection in people who ate at Taco John’s restaurants in Albert Lea and Austin share the same genetic fingerprint as cases from a similar outbreak in Iowa.

“This is a strong indication that we are dealing with a common food source,” said Kirk Smith, supervisor of foodborne disease investigations at the Minnesota Department of Health. “Right now, our epidemiological evidence points to lettuce as the most likely source for the E. coli, but we are continuing to investigate and to work with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Iowa officials to determine a source more exactly.”

Minnesota now has 27 cases of E. coli infection associated with the outbreak: 5 cases confirmed in the MDH Public Health Laboratory, 1 case that is a presumptive positive, and 21 probable cases that are still being investigated. The cases are almost evenly divided between those who ate meals at Taco John’s restaurant in Albert Lea and those who ate at the Austin restaurant.

The DNA fingerprints of the Minnesota and Iowa cases do not match those of cases involved in the outbreak in the Northeast U.S. associated with Taco Bell restaurants.

One Minnesota case has been hospitalized with complications from E. coli infection.

Symptoms of E. coli O157 illness include stomach cramps and diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea may develop. E. coli O157 disease sometimes leads to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure. People typically become ill two to five days after eating contaminated food. E. coli O157 disease should not be treated with antibiotics, which can cause additional complications.

Anyone who has eaten at a Taco John’s restaurant since Thanksgiving and has experienced bloody diarrhea is asked to call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 between 5 and 8 p.m. today (Monday) and 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Minnesota E. coli Outbreak Linked to Taco John's: Lawyer and Lawsuit Information
If you contracted an E. coli infection after eating at Taco John's, contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages.

Minnesota E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker has over 30 years of experience and has established a national reputation for excellence in the area of food poisoning litigation. He has recovered millions for victims of food poisoning. In recognition of his achievements, other lawyers have selected him for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. To contact Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or use the firm's online-consultation form.

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