One dead, dozens affected from E.coli outbreak at McDonald's in US
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Washington: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday confirmed that one person died and several others fell sick from severe E.coli outbreak after eating McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
The health agency reportedly said that the outbreak that started in late September spread to 10 Western states with most cases being reported in Colorado and Nebraska, which led to more than six percent fall in the fast food chain’s shares.
It is reported that ten people including a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition affecting the blood vessels in the kidneys, have been hospitalized, adding that ‘one older person in Colorado has died’.
Most affected people recalled having eaten Quarter Pounders before developing the symptoms with all of them carrying the same E. coli strain.
Though investigators have not found out exact ingredient that caused the outbreak, focus is on slivered onions and beef patties.
Both the ingredients have been removed from restaurants in the affected states pending further investigation.
Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA in a video message said that steps were taken to remove slivered onions used in Quarter Pounders, adding ‘Food safety is so important to me and everyone at McDonald's’.
Joe Erlinger said that other items on menu including beef products are available in affected states, while majority of states remain not affected.
Meanwhile, the health agency advised people who developed symptoms like diarrhea and fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9c) after eating Quarter Pounder to seek medical help.
Symptom typically begin three to four days after exposure to E.Coli with most people recovering within five to seven days requiring no treatment but in some cases the condition could become severe, requiring hospitalization.
