Investigation reveals at least 49 cases of illness across more than ten states.
A tragic E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has resulted in one death and ten hospitalizations, raising significant health concerns across over ten states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed at least 49 reported cases of the bacteria, primarily concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska.
On Tuesday, the CDC’s Outbreak Response and Prevention branch announced it was conducting a “fast-moving outbreak investigation.” In response to the emerging crisis, McDonald’s has swiftly removed all burger ingredients linked to the Quarter Pounder from its restaurants in affected areas.
Public health officials are currently scrutinizing Quarter Pounder beef patties and slivered onions as potential sources of contamination. Other items on the menu remain available and are not believed to pose a risk to consumers.
Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, stated the company is collaborating closely with the CDC and is committed to providing updates as the investigation unfolds. “We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu,” Erlinger remarked. “We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics. We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu. This was swift and decisive action by us.”
The first confirmed case occurred on September 27th in Colorado, which led state officials to inform the CDC about multiple E. coli cases on October 10th. The CDC commenced its investigation on October 15, noting that there may be unreported cases as it typically takes three to four weeks to determine if a patient is part of an outbreak.
E. coli, or Escherichia coli, can cause severe symptoms, including high fevers, dehydration, vomiting, severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, and dry mouth and throat, typically appearing three to four days after exposure to the bacteria.
In Colorado, 26 cases have been confirmed, while Nebraska has reported nine. Other states involved in the outbreak include Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
