Doctors and health professionals are advising Mississippians to avoid eating romaine lettuce. MPB's Ashley Norwood reports on an ongoing E.coli outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multi-state outbreak of E.coli linked to romaine lettuce produced in Yuma, Arizona. The warning has been placed on chopped romaine lettuce, whole heads, and hearts of romaine as well as pre-packaged salads or mixed salads containing romaine. So far, one case has been reported in Mississippi.
Brittany Behm is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We're at 98 cases across 22 states and about half of those people have been hospitalized. Ten of these people have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, so this is appearing to be a very serious outbreak," said Behm.
Dr. Bhagyashri Navalkele with the University of Mississippi Medical Center says symptoms include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and sometimes fever. She says some can recover in a week with rest and fluids. Others may be a little more at risk.
"A few individuals who have weak immune systems like children less than 5-years-old or elderly like more than 65-years-old or anybody who have other issues with their immune system might have prolonged symptoms and they might go on to develop blood complications," said Navalkele.
More information on the ongoing outbreak is available at cdc.gov Ashley Norwood, MPB News.
