Ohio Department of Health monitoring E. coli outbreak with 19 Ohioans sick

CLEVELAND — The Ohio Division of Well being has reported 19 circumstances of E. coli. 

Well being officers haven’t named a particular meals because the supply of the outbreak, however Wendy’s eliminated romaine lettuce from eating places in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania as a precaution.

Wooden (7), Lorain (2), Cuyahoga (2), Lucas (2), Mahoning (2), Franklin (1) Clermont (1), and Summit (1) counties have reported outbreaks of E. coli. Most of the folks affected reported consuming burgers and sandwiches with romaine lettuce from Wendy’s, in keeping with the Ohio Division of Well being.

4 folks throughout Ohio have been hospitalized. These with signs are requested to recount their meals historical past, 72 hours earlier than they fell ailing.

Cuyahoga County well being officers mentioned contact tracing is significant in getting the bacterial outbreak underneath management.

“By interviewing all these folks and getting their meals histories and gauging their signs and discovering out if all of them had all gone to the identical place maybe,” mentioned Kevin Brennan, communications officer for the Cuyahoga County Board of Well being. “All these components go into influencing the investigation.”

E. coli signs can vary from abdomen cramps to vomiting and may result in extra critical situations like kidney failure. The reason for E. coli might be undercooked meat, like floor beef, or unwashed produce.

“Animals can eat a few of the meals off of the bottom or animals do their enterprise in the identical place that the fruit will fall so if that fruit shouldn’t be correctly cleaned the fecal matter that might be on the product that somebody is consuming may actually be a trigger for it,” mentioned Brennan. 

The Cuyahoga County Board of Well being mentioned that the very best factor to do is to be overly cautious when getting ready and consuming meals.

“Earlier than you prep, wash your palms, after the meals goes on the grill, wash your palms, and earlier than you eat, wash your palms,” mentioned Brennan. “That may appear extreme however they’re completely greatest practices from a public well being perspective. Get your self a vegetable brush and brush these issues and clear them for a few minute to 2 minutes earlier than you eat them, in order that’ll just remember to’re getting them as clear as doable.”

Anybody experiencing signs of E. coli, consultants suggest they contact their native well being supplier and native well being division. The Ohio Division of Well being has been aiding the Heart for Illness Management on the investigation.