A mysterious epidemic of E. Coli sickened 72 people in five US states, warns CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other US agencies are investigating an outbreak of E. coli. Coli in five states, announced Friday the CDC.

According to the latest announcement from the agency, the bacterium has made 72 people sick in five US states.

The source of the outbreak is not yet clearly known, but it seems that it is widespread.

Eight people have been hospitalized and the CDC is asking consumers, restaurants to take precautions to avoid infections, while other agencies are looking for the origin of the contamination.

A mysterious outbreak of E. coli bacteria (photo) has left 72 people sick in eight states and eight of them have been hospitalized, the CDC warned on Friday.

The CDC, the Food Inspection and Safety Department of the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several states are investigating the epidemic of infections producing toxins, E. coli O103.

Escherichia coli, or E. coli bacteria, normally lives in the intestines of people and animals in good health.

Although many strains of bacteria are harmless, some strains can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia are the five states that have reported E. coli infections related to a particular strain of the bacteria.

Up to 72 people from these states reported infections and eight were hospitalized on April 4, 2019, the agency said.

No deaths have been reported.

The investigation is still ongoing and the reason for the outbreak has not yet been identified, the agency said.

This outbreak comes one week after 5,000 pounds of meat were recalled following E's fears. Coli.

Last week, the FDA also warned that Roman growers had failed to prevent the deadly E. coli outbreak last year in an "epic and tragic" way. , and warned that another outbreak is likely this summer.

Last year's Roman outbreak was fatal because of Shiga toxin caused by a particular strain of E. coli. Coli, which causes much more serious infections.

The mysterious current outbreak involves a different strain of E. Coli, but this one also produces shiga-toxins.

Health agencies and state hospitals will be on maximum alert for diseases related to the epidemic.

To prevent contamination and infections, the CDC reminds the public to wash their hands thoroughly, cook meat thoroughly, maintain cleanliness, separate work areas when preparing food, wash fruits and vegetables. vegetables, avoid raw, unpasteurized dairy products, and stay away. from the kitchen when sick.