The CDC reports that 19 people have been hospitalized due to severe food poisoning with E. coli, including 2 people who developed a type of kidney failure known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
The illnesses started on dates ranging from October 5, 2018 through November 18, 2018, but health officials expect to see additional illnesses reported in the next few weeks.
Investigators have been unable to identify a common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand of romaine lettuce.
Instead of a recall, the CDC is advising consumers against eating all romaine lettuce from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California.
The CDC has collected water samples in California to test for E. coli as part of the investigation of farms and cooling facilities in California. The test results are pending.
The symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
Anyone who may have gotten sick from eating romaine lettuce should talk to their doctor and report their illness to the health department.
Source: CDC Update: Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce
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