UPDATE 4/23/18- The CDC now recommends that you not eat any store bought or restaurant romaine lettuce unless you can confirm with absolute certainty that it does not come from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region.


 

Original article:

An E. coli outbreak which began in March and is which believed to be linked to chopped romaine lettuce continues to grow. 53 cases of E. coli have now been reported in 16 states. Nearly three dozen people have been hospitalized and at least five have suffered from kidney failure, although there have been no reported deaths. In New York, there have been two confirmed cases and in Pennsylvania, 12 cases have been confirmed.

Officials believe that the lettuce may have been grown in the Yuma, Arizona region, although they’re not giving up information on the grower, supplier, distributor, or brand. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that if you have romaine lettuce, even if it came in a salad or salad mix, you should throw it away immediately even if someone in your house has already consumed some and not gotten sick.

If you’re planning to buy romaine lettuce at the grocery store or will be ordering something at a restaurant that includes romaine lettuce, you’re urged to first confirm that the lettuce didn’t come from the Yuma, Arizona area. If you discover that it did or if you can’t confirm where the lettuce came from, don’t buy or eat it.

Officials say that E. coli symptoms can range from mild to severe diarrhea to nausea and vomiting, however, most people don’t generally get a fever. E. coli is very contagious, can spread quickly and can be deadly if not treated.

If you’ve recently had romaine lettuce and are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’re urged to seek medical attention right away.

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