Several fast-food chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell have removed fresh onions from their menus in parts of the U.S. following an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's.
Two more cases of E. coli linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers have been identified in Nebraska, bringing to 11 the number sickened in a multistate outbreak, health officials said Friday.
Nationally, 26 new illnesses have been reported bringing the total to 75, up from 49 earlier in the week, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. Three new states — Michigan, New Mexico and Washington — also have been added to the list of those where people have been sickened, bringing that total to 13.Â
Earlier this week, health agencies reported that four cases each had been been tallied in the Douglas County and Sarpy/Cass public health districts with one additional case in the Lincoln-Lancaster County district.Â
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not identify Friday where the new cases had occurred, but Sarpy/Cass officials confirmed that one of the additional cases had been reported within the district's boundaries, bringing its total to five.Â
A Nebraska woman, meanwhile, has become the second to file a lawsuit against the fast food giant over the outbreak, . According to the suit, the woman ate at a McDonald's restaurant in Nebraska on Sept. 18 and became ill on Sept. 23. She went to an emergency room in North Platte on Sept. 25.Â
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Nationally, 12 additional people have been hospitalized, bringing the total to 22. That includes a previously reported death in Colorado, where the majority of cases have occurred, and a child with complications from hemolytic uremic syndrome as well as one one new case of the kidney condition in an adult.
While the specific ingredient linked to the illness has not yet been confirmed, investigators are focused on fresh slivered onions and fresh beef patties.
Taylor Farms, the supplier of slivered onions for the affected McDonald's locations, has initiated a voluntary recall of the product, according to CDC. Due to the product actions taken by McDonald's and Taylor Farms, the agency said it believes the continued risk to the public is very low.
Symptoms — severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting or a low fever — usually occur three to four days after people are exposed to what’s known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli but could develop in as little as a day and last as long as 10 days. Most will recover with no treatment.
However, those who experience diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days, bloody stool or urine, or a fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit should contact a health care provider immediately.