(WXYZ) Michigan health officials might be closing in on the source of an E. coli outbreak that sicked 26 people.
The Department of Community Health issued a public health alert yesterday as a precaution. It says the recent E. coli illnesses are thought to be associated with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold to restaurants and institutions.
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Some of the people who got sick ate lettuce supplied by Detroit-based Aunt Mid's Produce Company. There is no evidence that bagged lettuce sold at grocery stores is affected.
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Some of the E. coli cases occurring this month are at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and the Lenawee County Jail.
Read the entire health alert belowLansing – As a precautionary measure, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is issuing a public health alert due to illnesses from the 26 cases of E. coli strain O157:H7 that are thought to be associated with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold through wholesale venues to restaurants and institutions.
There is no evidence that the bagged lettuce at grocery stores is affected.
Some of the 26 Michigan cases consumed shredded or chopped iceberg lettuce in restaurants or institutions purchased from Aunt Mid’s Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor; and other distributing outlets could be identified. Product trace back and additional tests results are still in progress.
“Our top priority at the Michigan Department of Community Health is to protect the public,” said Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH. “We appreciate all of the assistance from Aunt Mid’s. They have been very helpful in this investigation. We want to ensure that the public’s health and well-being is protected. Even though the investigation is ongoing, available evidence is strongly pointing to iceberg lettuce.”
The 26 genetically linked cases are present in eight Michigan counties including seven at Michigan State University (Ingham County), five inmates at the Lenawee County Jail, three students at the University of Michigan (Washtenaw County), four in Macomb County, three each in Wayne, two in Kent counties, and one each in St. Clair and Oakland counties. Of the E. coli O157:H7 cases that are genetically linked, 10 have been hospitalized. These linked cases range in age from
11 to 81 years old. Symptoms of these confirmed genetically linked E. coli patients began on Sept. 8. More confirmed cases could surface as the investigation continues.
The symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 may include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/less than 38.5˚C). Most people get better within 5–7 days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.
In connection with the E. coli outbreak, Detroit based produce company Aunt Mid's released this statement:
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Michigan Department of Community Health has recently issued a public health alert in connection with 26 cases in Michigan of e coli contamination related to iceberg lettuce. The health alert has identified Aunt Mid's as one of the wholesale processors who sold institutional-sized iceberg lettuce product to the establishments which served the affected persons. It is expected that other wholesale suppliers will also be identified as and when product traceback measures are finalized.
Aunt Mid's is cooperating fully with the State's efforts to actually identify the source of contamination and has already voluntarily initiated testing procedures by an independent laboratory of its processing facility and processing methods. The initial test results have indicated no contamination and Aunt Mid's is conducting ongoing testing to confirm those initial results.
Once those testing procedures are completed, Aunt Mid's will provide an update of the results. In the meantime, Aunt Mid's is voluntarily suspending any processing and sale of its iceberg lettuce product line.
