A deadly E. coli outbreak spanning across 10 states has been linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced. Colorado has been the hardest hit, with one reported death and 27 illnesses, while Nebraska follows with nine reported cases. In total, 49 individuals have fallen ill due to the same E. coli strain, and at least one child is currently hospitalized.
As obtained by KDVR, the affected states include Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana, and Oregon. Adding to the efforts to curb the spread, McDonald’s has reportedly removed the implicated beef patties and slivered onions used in their Quarter Pounder burgers from outlets in these states, acting "proactively" to mitigate the health risks.
The outbreak's first case was reported on September 27. Reporting a lag in case identification, the CDC indicates that recent illnesses might not be reflected in the outbreak tally due to the typical 3 to 4 weeks needed to ascertain if an illness is part of the larger outbreak, according to NBC News. Symptoms associated with E. coli infections include high fever, severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, which develop a few days after consuming the tainted food.
An alert from the CDC advises anyone experiencing severe E. coli infection symptoms after consuming a Quarter Pounder at McDonald's to seek medical care and inform their healthcare provider about their meal, as noted by KKTV. The agency's ongoing investigation continues to monitor the situation and work towards identifying the source of the contaminated ingredients that have led to this widespread health concern.
