According to various state heath departments a May E. coli O145 Outbreak in TN (1 ill), LA (2 ill and 1 death), GA (5 ill), AL (2 ill) and FL (1 ill) has sickened 12 – perhaps others – no source known. Here are some past E. coli O145 outbreaks:
Zillman Meat Market Ready-to-Eat, Custom, Smoked Meat Products Made From Game 2010: An outbreak of E. coli O145 was linked to the consumption of ready-to-eat, custom, smoked meat products that were made from game. These products were produced and sold by the Zillman Meat Market in Wausau, Wisconsin between September 30 and December 28. Fresh meat products apparently were not implicated in the outbreak. Four cases were known in Wisconsin, and three were known in Michigan. The cases in the two states are linked in that they shared Zillman smoked meat products among themselves.
Venison 2010: An outbreak of non-O157 Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli occurred among students at a high school in Minnesota, in November 2010. The students had handled and consumed venison from a wild white-tailed deer in a high school class. Consuming undercooked venison and not washing hands after handling raw venison were associated with illness. E. coli O103:H2 (2 isolates) and non-Shiga toxin–producing E. coli O145:NM (1 isolate) were isolated from ill students and the venison.
Freshway Foods Romaine Lettuce 2010, non-O157 STEC: Cases of a genetically identical strain of E. coli O145 were identified in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New York. Illness onsets occurred between April 10 and 26. Several of the cases were students at Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, and Daemen College (Buffalo, New York). Several of the ill in Ann Arbor, Michigan, had eaten at a common restaurant. At least four students in the Wappinger Central School District, in New York State, were also involved in the outbreak. Shredded lettuce served in the school district tested positive for E. coli bacteria. Romaine lettuce was named as the vehicle for this outbreak, on May 6, after the same strain of E. coli O145 was found in a Freshway Foods romaine lettuce sample in New York State. Freshway Foods issued a voluntary recall of various bagged lettuces. The traceback investigation suggested that the source of the lettuce was a farm in Yuma, Arizona. In Ohio, a second, independent strain, of pathogenic E. coli was isolated from Freshway Foods bagged, shredded, romaine lettuce, E. coli O143:H34. This strain was not linked to any known food-borne illness. The isolation of the second strain of E. coli led to an additional recall of lettuce. Andrew Smith Company, of California, launched a recall of lettuce sold to Vaughan Foods and to an unidentified third firm in Massachusetts. Vaughan Foods of Moore, Oklahoma, received romaine lettuce harvested from the same farm in Yuma, Arizona; the romaine lettuce had been distributed to restaurants and food service facilities.
Belgian Pasteurized Ice Cream 2007, Non-O157 STEC: People who had eaten ice cream produced and sold at a farm in Antwerp developed Verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC). The pasteurized ice cream was served at two birthday parties and at the farm. Two strains of E. coli were involved in this outbreak E. coli O145 and E. coli O26. The identical strains of E. coli were found in leftover ice cream, in fecal samples from calves, and in samples of soiled straw at the farm. The pasteurization technique used by the farm appeared adequate. Because of the presence of the same bacteria on the farm, it seemed likely to the investigators that a farm worker could have contaminated the ice cream after it had been pasteurized.
Camp Yamhill Multiple Pathogen Drinking Water 2005: An outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a camp in Oregon. The outbreak was caused by multiple pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, and E. coli O145. The water system may have been overwhelmed surface water runoff caused by heavy rainfall.
Minnesota Day Care Person-to-Person 1999: Two children at a Minnesota day care program became ill due to E. coli O145. The infection was spread from person-to-person.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.
If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.