US: E. coli outbreak continues nationwide /update 3

Event

As of mid-December, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported 59 cases of E. coli in 15 states as part of an ongoing outbreak. According to the health officials, the outbreak has been linked to romaine lettuce grown in the Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Barbara counties in California. The CDC is warning people to avoid buying or eating romaine lettuce harvested from the abovementioned areas until further notice.

Context

Individuals usually develop symptoms of E. coli two to eight days after consuming the contaminated food. Symptoms include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. Most people recover within one week of contracting E. coli but some cases can become severe or life-threatening.

Advice

Individuals in the US are advised to follow the advice issued by CDC and to consult their website for more information.