Zeina Ayache A sandwich contaminated with Escherichia Coli, specifically sliced onions, would be the cause of the death of a man in the United States who ate at McDonald's. Let's clarify the matter, understanding what we know to date and what the symptoms and treatment are.
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Since September 27, health authorities around the country have reported 49 cases of Escherichia Coli in several states. Of the sick, one case involved a severe condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, where blood clots occur in critical organs and can lead to kidney failure. An elderly man died in Colorado.
Escherichia Coli and McDonald’s: what’s happening
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have launched an investigation to try to find the source of these infection cases. Initial findings indicate sliced onions as the likely source.
Among the foods being investigated as possibly linked to the outbreak is the Quarter Pounder, which appears to have been ordered by the individuals infected with the bacteria. All three the infections reported have the same kind of bacteria: Escherichia coli O157.
Since the beef in such hamburgers is cooked at appropriate temperatures, more than 160°F (71°C), the hamburgers’ beef should not be under suspicion.
Attention thus goes back to the sliced onions, which have been assumed to emanate from a single distributor to the implicated fast-food outlets.
Previous cases of Escherichia coli in the U.S.
This latest outbreak brings to mind the infamous Jack in the Box incident, which gave way to the Escherichia coli outbreak from 1992 into 1993. The epidemic killed four children and hundreds of other cases of illness.
That outbreak also involved the Escherichia coli O157 strain.
McDonald’s response to the Escherichia coli outbreak
McDonald’s, whose stock has plummeted since the incident, has reacted to this crisis by attempting to locate the specific ingredient responsible for the contamination. Until then, the Quarter Pounder has been removed from the menu at approximately 20 percent of its U.S. restaurants.
Risks of Escherichia coli: symptoms and ttreatment
Escherichia Coli is a type of bacteria that reside in the human body and aid in digestion. However, there are certain strains that, upon acquisition through food and water contamination, cause severe symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea-a bloody one is a symptom
- Urinary tract infection
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Sepsis
- Death-in severe cases
The bacteria are killed when food reaches more than 140°F or 60°C.
Most of the Escherichia Coli infections will disappear in some days and can easily be treated with the help of antibiotics, though antibiotic resistance is becoming an ever-growing problem.
