Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today warned residents to throw out romaine lettuce from Yuma, Az., after a recent E. coli outbreak affecting numerous states, including Pennsylvania.
“This particular strain of E. coli can cause severe illness, including bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “If you have had symptoms, including bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and vomiting, we urge you to contact your physician. If you have questions, you can contact us at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.”
The most recent information from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that all romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Az., growing region should not be consumed. This includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing Romaine lettuce. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
E.coli is a bacteria that can cause severe illness. As of April 24th, Pennsylvania has 12 confirmed cases of the shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7, which is the particular strain of E. coli that causes these illnesses. Eight of those 12 have been hospitalized, and one patient developed HUS.
If you have had any of these symptoms lately, you should consult with a medical professional. If you currently have any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention. You can also call the department at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
For more information about E. coli and other illnesses, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle, 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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