Idahoans are getting sick from eating chopped romaine lettuce. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says E. coli infections are linked to lettuce from Yuma, Arizona.
The national outbreak has hit 35 people in 11 states. In Idaho, eight people have gotten sick with E. coli. They all got ill after eating romaine lettuce. Three people, between the ages of 20 and 55, ended up in the hospital. Two people have developed kidney failure from the infection. Nationwide, 22 people have been hospitalized.
State health officials and the Centers for Disease Control report chopped romaine lettuce from Yuma may be contaminated with E. coli. No brand, grower or distributer has been identified so far. The lettuce has been found in both restaurants and private homes. Officials advise against eating chopped lettuce from Yuma until more information is known. If you have some of the lettuce, or aren’t sure where yours comes from, throw it out.
E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, vomiting and low-grade fever. It can be life-threatening, especially for the young and elderly.
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