Arab Weather - One person died and at least 39 others were infected with E. coli in several US states after eating organic carrots contaminated with the bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement Sunday that it had detected cases in 18 U.S. states between Sept. 6 and Oct. 28. The states with the most cases were Washington, Minnesota and New York. The CDC also warned that the outbreak may have spread to other states and that the actual number of people infected may be higher than reported. Some people may recover without seeking medical attention.
Investigations indicate that the contaminated organic carrots came from an agricultural company that was the primary supplier of carrots eaten by the affected individuals. The company, one of the world’s largest carrot producers, began recalling small and whole organic carrots from stores on Saturday. The carrots were sold between Aug. 14 and Oct. 23. The company is asking consumers who still have the contaminated carrots to dispose of them and to disinfect any surfaces that came into contact with the product.
E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of humans and animals like cows, and while most strains don’t cause disease, the ones that produce toxins are the most dangerous. The FDA said the contaminated carrots may contain a strain of E. coli that produces Shiga toxins, which can affect the body’s cells by disrupting protein production, leading to cell damage. This type of toxin can cause serious health conditions such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys.
Symptoms of infection, such as diarrhea and fever, usually appear 3 to 4 days after eating contaminated food. While most people recover within 5 to 7 days, in some cases the infection can lead to permanent health problems or even death. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported among infected people to date, according to NPR.
See also:
Why do we feel sleepy after eating?
Winter diseases beware of them
Arabia Weather App
Download the app to receive weather notifications and more..