WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control announced an outbreak of E.Coli linked to the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder.
So far, one case has been reported in Kansas, and at least 49 cases have been reported in 10 other states, including one death in Colorado, where the outbreak was first reported. McDonald’s is still working with its vendors to determine the exact source of the bacteria.
The outbreak joins the deadly Listeria outbreak that began with the recall of Boar’s Head deli meats and spread on to other foods like pre-cooked meat and poultry items sold at national retailers, meat shipped to public schools, and most recently, hundreds of frozen waffle and pancake products.
You may know that E. coli and Listeria are bacteria, but what exactly are they, and how do they make people sick?
E.coli
Escherichia coli is a common bacteria. In fact, you can find it in your intestines and many warm-blooded animals.
Most of the time, it is harmless. However, some strains of the bacteria can release toxins called Shiga toxin.
Shiga toxin works by breaking down proteins in your body’s cells, causing damage. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.
In severe cases, it can cause Hemolytic Uraemic Syndrome, which includes acute kidney failure, a sudden decline in kidney function within a few days leading to toxins building up in the body. This syndrome also includes hemolytic anemia, where red blood cells break down faster than the body can replace them, and thrombocytopenia, a low blood plate count that makes it harder to stop bleeding.
Children under 5, Adults 65 or older, or those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to the more severe forms of the infection. In most cases, symptoms appear within 3 or 4 days of exposure but can take up to 8 days to appear.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of E.Coli infection, contact your healthcare provider.
Listeria
Its scientific name is Listeria monocytogenes. It causes a disease called Listeriosis.
Like E. coli, it also releases a toxin that damages cell proteins in the body. This protein is called Listeriolysin O.
There are two types of Listeriosis: Intestinal and Invasive
Like E. coli, the intestinal form of Listeriosis causes vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms appear within 24 hours of eating food containing listeria, typically lasting 1 to 3 days and are typically mild.
The invasive form of Listeriosis is when Listeria spreads beyond the intestines. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, seizures and convulsions.
If the infection enters the bloodstream, it can cause sepsis, meningitis, and encephalitis.
Listeriosis is extremely dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn children. Although it causes a fever and flu-like symptoms for pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or lifelong health complications for the baby if it is born with Listerosis.
This is why it is recommended that women avoid foods like lunch and deli meats, hot dogs, sausages, and unpasteurized milk or cheese while pregnant, as they increase the risk of infection.
Staying healthy
Foodborne illnesses can affect anyone regardless of their health, and they can be deadly for young children, people 65 or older, or those with compromised immune systems.
While you can normally tell when food has gone bad because it smells or changes color, you cannot tell if it contains E. Coli or Listeria. At home, you should always store food at the proper temperature, setting your refrigerator to 40°F and your freezer to 0° F. Cooking foods to a temperature of 165°F can also kill off bacteria and help prevent foodborne illnesses at home.
Monitor recalls and health alerts issued by the FDA, USDA, and CDC.
For more tips on preventing foodborne illness, click here.