I was talking with William Newman from the New York Times as he was writing his story on “Tainted Lettuce Linked to Illness in Three States,” when he asked about prior E. coli O145 outbreaks. I was able to pull out of my hat:
“William Marler, a lawyer specializing in such cases, said that
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Although Yuma has not been linked to an "leafy green" E. coli outbreak in the past – O157:H7 or otherwise – like O145, it is not like Yuma is risk free – it has more than a few cattle feedlots and is a major flyway for migrating birds. It also has the "All American Canal."
Our discussion with the FSIS on our Petition for an Interpretive Rule Declaring all enterohemorrhagic Shiga Toxin-producing Serotypes of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Including Non-O157 Serotypes, to be Adulterants Within the Meaning of 21 U.S.C. § 601(m)(1) is ongoing. Here is the most recent installment:
Here is a copy of the letter sent to parents:
May 6, 2010
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I am writing to inform you that over the past few weeks a small number of students reported symptoms of diarrheal illness. The students received immediate treatment at local health care providers. There have not been any further
Petition Submitted by Marler Clark LLP, PS Outbreak, Inc. (Oct 5, 2009, PDF Only)
Citizens petition submitted to FSIS for an interpretive rule declaring all Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Shiga Toxin-producing serotypes of Escherichia coli (E. coli), including non-0157 serotypes, to be adulterants within the meaning of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA).
* FSIS Progress Response
According to the CDC as a few moments ago, local and state public health officials in Michigan, New York, and Ohio are investigating human illnesses caused by E. coli O145. CDC is supporting these investigations and facilitating regular communication and information sharing between the states and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As
Heather May of the Salt Lake Tribune posted a few moments ago "Public health officials investigating salmonella cases:"
Public health and agriculture officials are investigating six cases of salmonella they believe were caused by drinking unpasteurized milk. Milk samples are being tested for the bacteria at the state’s public health lab, with results due next
The Outbreak
Freshway Foods and the Food and Drug Administration announced mid-morning a recall of Romaine Lettuce after illnesses were reported in Michigan, Ohio and New York – primarily impacting students at University of Michigan, The Ohio State university and Daemen University. The Food and Drug Administration reported the E. coli O145 illnesses included 12
Over the last few weeks as Ohio, Michigan and New York health officials (along with the CDC) have tracked the source of the ongoing E. coli O145 outbreak to lettuce that has sickened over 50 people near college campuses at The Ohio State in Columbus, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Daemen College in
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E. coli outbreaks, primarily of the O157 variety, have been associated with lettuce or spinach, specifically “pre-washed” and “ready-to-eat” varieties, and are by no means a new phenomenon. By way of illustration:
August 1993 – E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to a salad bar; 53 reported cases in Washington State
July 1995 – Lettuce (leafy
