The deadly E. coli strain linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders is a leading cause of food poisoning


The deadly E. coli strain linked to McDonald

Oct. 24, 2024, 2:01 PM GMT+5 The strain of E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the U.S. On Oct. 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that an outbreak of the bacterial infection had sickened at least 49 people in 10 states. One person has died. While there are many types of harmless E. coli, there are six that can cause diarrhea, including O157:H7, which may have contaminated raw onions used on the burgers, according to federal health officials. Here’s what to know about staying safe from E. coli. What is E. coli? Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria that spreads in feces and can contaminate food, potentially causing serious infection. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is the most common type in high-income countries, like the U.S. It's the type of E. coli that has been implicated in the McDonald’s outbreak. Although STEC infection most severely affects children younger than 5 years old and adults aged 65 and older, anyone can be infected. “This one is the dying kind,” said Prashant Singh, a food safety microbiologist at Florida State University, stressing the danger of this type of E. coli. According to the CDC, symptoms commonly include bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. In vulnerable groups, E. coli infection can also lead to serious kidney complications and death. People can become infected after consuming contaminated food or water, or coming into contact with the feces of animals or infected people. What are the symptoms of E. coli? E. coli symptoms usually show up three to four days after ingesting the bacteria, but it may take up to 10 days. Once inside a patient, the E. coli stick to the inside of the intestines and produce a toxin that kills the cells lining the gut. This causes inflammation of the intestines, leading to watery diarrhea that becomes bloody after one to three days. Low-grade fever is also a possible symptom. The severe diarrhea and intestinal inflammation can lead to dehydration and abdominal tenderness. In vulnerable patients, severe infection can lead to death. The O157:H7 strain can also cause a very dangerous complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which involves damage to the blood vessels, leading to red blood cell destruction and kidney injury. The cells involved in blood clotting are also destroyed, leading to easy bruising. Symptoms of HUS range from blood in the urine and swelling of the legs, all the way up to seizures and death. While it mostly occurs in children, anyone can develop HUS.