BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Five Bernalillo County residents have contracted E. coli potentially associated with McDonald’s, the New Mexico Department of Health announced Wednesday. These cases are part of an outbreak that has sickened people in other states, per NMDOH. The state health agency said there has been one hospitalization and no deaths to date […]
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Five Bernalillo County residents have contracted E. coli potentially associated with McDonald’s, the New Mexico Department of Health announced Wednesday.
These cases are part of an outbreak that has sickened people in other states, per NMDOH. The state health agency said there has been one hospitalization and no deaths to date in New Mexico. “We’re taking this outbreak seriously and taking part in a multi-state investigation being led by the CDC,” Patrick Allen, NMHealth secretary, said in a news release.
As of Oct. 22, 49 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most ill people in this outbreak reported eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated. McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties while the investigation continues.
Illness caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) often begins as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever. According to NMDOH, most people recover on their own in 5-7 days. However, 5-10% of diagnosed cases can develop a very serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The risk of HUS increases if people take anti-diarrheal drugs (like Imodium) and might increase if they take antibiotics.
If you have any of the symptoms of STEC infection, your doctor can order tests to determine whether or not you are infected with STEC.