As of October 6, 2006, Friday, 199 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 26 states. Among the ill persons, 102 were hospitalized and 31 have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Three deaths in confirmed cases have been associated with the outbreak. One was in an elderly woman from Wisconsin. Yesterday, Idaho confirmed that stool samples from a 2-year-old child with HUS who died contained E. coli O157 with a pattern that matches the outbreak strain. Today, Nebraska reported the death of an elderly woman with an illness compatible with E. coli O157 infection who consumed raw spinach.
Maryland is investigating a suspect case in an elderly woman who died on September 13 and had recently consumed fresh spinach.