Escherichia coli O157:H7 United States, Canada · 2018

E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from California's Central Coast, United States, 2018

CDC reported 62 people infected in 16 states and the District of Columbia, 25 of them hospitalised and 2 with haemolytic uraemic syndrome. No deaths were reported. The outbreak strain was found in sediment in an agricultural water reservoir on a Santa Barbara County farm, Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. Whole genome sequencing showed the strain was closely related to a 2017 leafy greens outbreak and to romaine illnesses in Canada.¹

Counts as reported on 9 January 2019.¹ Food vehicle: Romaine lettuce from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California.

Timeline

1. 7 October 2018Earliest illness onset reported by CDC.¹
2. 13 December 2018Adam Bros. Farming recalled red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and cauliflower harvested 27 to 30 November 2018.¹
3. 9 January 2019CDC final update. CDC said the outbreak appeared to be over.¹

Sources

1. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce (Final Update) (9 January 2019)