E. coli Spinach cases in Wisconsin

E.coli contaminated Spinach was blamed today for a Wisconsin E coli O157:H7 outbreak.  An FDA release published on September 14, 2006 states that one death and numerous hospitalizations have occurred in several states.  The extreme dangers of E. coli are well known and thus, the FDA has told consumers to avoid all bagged fresh spinach until further information is available.  There have been 20 reported cases in Wisconsin.

E. coli O157:H7 is a powerful toxin that is known to cause infection and death and its symptoms include diarrhea, often with bloody stools, diarrhea and dehydration. Although healthy adults may recover completely in a week, people can develop kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Thus, if you experience those symptoms after consuming bagged spinach you should absolutely contact a health care provider. 

HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. HUS can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. To date, 50 cases of ecoli illness have been reported to the CDC, including 8 cases of HUS and one death.  If you believe a death was caused by E. coli O157:H7, it is urgent that you request proper tests and an autopsy.

E. Coli Testing & Evidence

Demand that your health care provider test your stool for E. coli bacterium.  Most laboratories that culture stool do not test for E.coli O157:H7, so it is important to request that the stool specimen be tested on sorbitol-MacConkey (SMAC) agar for this organism.  Further, in order to preserve evidence, victims should keep the spinach bag.  Victims may also want to call the FDA at 888-INFO-FDA before destroying any remaining spinach for possible testing. 

E. coli infection can be prevented by appropriate food processing and for this reason, the firm handles injury and death cases caused by ecoli.  It cannot be understated how important it is to have laboratory tests done to detect the E. coli or Escherichia coli bacteria.

If you wish to know whether the firm can help with a Wisconsin personal injury or wrongful death case, please call (262) 785-0802 or send email to attorney@frankpasternak.com.  Wisconsin lawyers may only practice law in Wisconsin.  Wisconsin attorneys may however work at no added fee or expense with personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys outside Wisconsin and Wisconsin lawyers may be admitted to practice on a temporary basis outside Wisconsin.   Thus, the firm may help with Wisconsin Personal Injury cases and potentially with cases outside Wisconsin.  All inquiries are free and without obligation.