The romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak that has sickened 149 people in 29 states now includes six E. coli illnesses in Canada, including one person who was hospitalized, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Two of the Canadian patients reported traveling to the U.S. before they became ill.
PHAC is advising all Canadians to be aware of the outbreak and use caution when purchasing romaine.
The six Canadian illnesses are being reported in four provinces: British Columbia (1), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (2), and Ontario (2). Case-patients, who range in age from 13 to 68, reported experiencing symptoms between late March and mid-April 2018. Sixty-seven percent are female. Most of those sickened reported having eaten romaine lettuce in prepared salads purchased at grocery stores, restaurants and fast food chains and in salads they ate at home before their illnesses occurred.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA )has known for weeks that the romaine lettuce associated with this outbreak was grown in Yuma, AZ but has not been able to zero in on a farm or farms responsible for all of the illnesses. Last week, the agency said romaine lettuce was no longer being produced or distributed from Yuma.
In the U.S., romaine lettuce E. coli lawsuits have been filed on behalf of some victims of the 149 outbreak victims half of whom have been hospitalized and 17 of whom have developed a life-threatening form of kidney failure associated with E. coli infections called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Between 5 percent and 10 percent of E. coli patients develop HUS. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
U.S. health officials have not named the grocery stores and restaurants that served the tainted romaine, but lawsuits have named Red Lobster and Panera Bread
The E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have represented clients in every major outbreak in the last two decades -including this one, To contact a member of our team, use this online form or call toll-free 1(888) 377-8900.
