The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday that it is investigating a four-state E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 37 people and sent 10 to the hospital.
The health protection agency said the source of the outbreak has not been determined, but said many of the ill people reported eating romaine lettuce sandwiches at Wendy's restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania before becoming ill.
No deaths related to the outbreak have been reported.
Wendy's said in a statement that it is removing the lettuce from sandwiches at its restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania after people who ate it reported getting sick.
It was also reported that one person became ill in Indiana.
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The CDC investigation is also trying to determine if the romaine lettuce used at Wendy's was served or sold at other businesses.
Wendy's says that the lettuce used in its salads is different and is not affected by its decision to remove this product from the sandwiches.
The company said it is cooperating with the CDC.
“As a company, we are committed to upholding our high standards for quality and food safety,” Wendy's said in a statement.
There are about 1,100 Wendy's restaurants in the four states, according to Reuters.
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The CDC also said there was no evidence that romaine lettuce from other restaurants or grocery stores is linked to the outbreak and was not advising people to stop eating at Wendy's.
Illnesses were reported from July 26 to August 8, and the ages of the sick ranged from 6 to 91 years.
Among the 10 hospitalized, three developed a type of kidney failure, the CDC said.
What to do in a possible case of poisoning
The CDC recommends calling your health care provider right away if you have any of these serious symptoms of E. coli:
Diarrhea and fever over 102°F.
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that does not improve or bloody diarrhea.
Vomiting to the level that you cannot keep fluids down.
Signs of dehydration, such as: not urinating a lot;
dry mouth and throat;
feel dizzy when standing up.
Symptoms usually begin 3 to 4 days after ingesting the bacteria.
Most people recover without treatment in 5 to 7 days, experts say.
If you have symptoms of E. coli infection, you can help public health officials resolve this outbreak by writing down what you ate in the week before you got sick, reporting your illness to your state or local health department, and answering questions from health officials. officials about what happened.
