The Center for Disease Control recently confirmed that an E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle Restaurants now has at least one confirmed case in Maryland. The popular restaurant has been linked to an outbreak of the dangerous E. coli bacteria since November 13th, and the CDC is warning consumers that the number of reported cases is growing.
A total of nine states in the U.S, including Maryland, now have confirmed cases of E. coli infection reported within the past month. There are 52 confirmed cases related to this outbreak so far, and 20 ill people have required hospitalization. The CDC has warned that these figures could continue to expand.
Read more about this outbreak here.
E. coli is a strain of bacteria that is often transmitted to humans through contaminated food or water. The most common form of E. coli infection in the United States occurs when people eat meat that has not been properly cooked to a temperature of at least 160°F.
The CDC estimates that E. coli bacteria is responsible for 96,000 illnesses, 3,200 hospitalizations and 34 deaths in the United States every year.
Symptoms of E. coli infection often include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Abdominal Pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blood in stool
Symptoms of an E. coli infection generally do not require hospitalization, and are often resolved within a few days to a week. However, patients with weakened immune systems, including the elderly and young children, also run the risk of developing much more severe side effects from an E. coli infection, including dehydration and kidney failure.
Food distributors and restaurants have a responsibility to make the safety and wellbeing of their customers their top priority. When companies fail to follow the proper safety protocols to ensure that all of their ingredients are fresh and safe for consumption, they put consumers at significant risk.
If you or a loved one has experienced any severe medical symptoms that you think may be linked to unsafe food, you can call and speak with an experienced attorney. Call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) for a FREE and confidential consultation.
Our experienced Baltimore Product Liability lawyers will review the details of your situation, and will fight hard to protect your rights. When you trust The Yost Legal Group to handle your case, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe us nothing unless we recover for you.
At The Yost Legal Group, we don’t get paid until you do.
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