E Coli Outbreak Spreads to 15 States; Leafy Greens Suspected

An E. coli outbreak has spread to 15 states, and health experts believe the infections are linked to contaminated leafy greens, Consumer Report noted.

An announcement was made on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which revealed seven more reports of E. coli infections that have spread to two more states, Maryland and New Jersey, in the ongoing outbreak.

The CDC noted that leafy greens were the likely source of the outbreak but Canadian health authorities pointed specifically to romaine lettuce for the spread of E. coli infections in the Eastern provinces.

The cases occurring in both the U.S. and Canada are of the same strain and appear to share a genetic fingerprint, CNN reported, but the CDC said this was not sufficient data to prove a link.

Which is why, although Canadian officials urged consumers to avoid romaine lettuce, U.S. health authorities have not yet identified which type of "leafy greens" had led to the spread of the illness.

"Leafy greens typically have a short shelf life, and since the last illness started a month ago, it is likely that contaminated leafy greens linked to this outbreak are no longer available for sale," CDC said in a statement.

While Canada declared the outbreak in that country over on Wednesday, Ian Williams, chief of the CDC's Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch said it was a little more difficult for the U.S. to make that call.

"How do you know it’s over? Without knowing the source, it’s hard to know," he said, per NBC News.

• Avoid Romaine Lettuce to Avoid E. Coli, Consumer Reports Suggests
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