Nebraska, Colorado hit hardest by multi-state E. coli outbreak • Nebraska Examiner

E. coli symptoms These include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting or low fever and signs of dehydration, according to the Douglas County Health Department. Blood and urine may be present in the stool. If someone experiences symptoms for more than two days, health authorities recommend seeking immediate medical attention.

State and county health officials in Nebraska say they are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to communicate with patients communicate and identify other potential cases.

However, the CDC does not advise against eating McDonald's food and states that potentially contaminated items have been removed from the menu in affected states.

A statement from McDonald's said it is temporarily banning the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the affected region, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and Nevada, out of “an abundance of caution.” New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We take food safety very seriously and it is the right thing to do,” said the statement from Cesar Piña, the fast food restaurant’s chief supply chain officer for North America.

McDonald's said initial findings indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to the onion slivers used in the Quarter Pounder, which is purchased from a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.

It said local restaurants had been ordered to remove the product from their offerings and that McDonald's had stopped distributing all onion slivers in the affected area.

The USDA is also investigating the beef patties on the Quarter Pounder hamburgers, Colorado officials reported.

McDonald's said it is working with suppliers to replenish supplies of the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks. It said other menu items were not affected and were available.

Infections probably higher than reported

After STEC exposure, symptoms typically appear after three to four days, but can last as long as a day or even 10 days, Nebraska health officials said.

STEC infections can sicken people of all ages. In some cases, especially in young children, older adults or people with weakened immune systems, STEC can cause a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and other health problems including death.

One of the people infected in the outbreak developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Symptoms include little or no urination, a loss of pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or a rash with tiny red spots, blood in the urine, and decreased alertness.

The CDC said the actual number of people sickened in the outbreak is likely much higher than the reported number, and that the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. The federal agency said that's because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.

Additionally, recent illnesses may go unreported because it typically takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak.

For more information, visit the CDC website.