Over
300,000 pounds of recalled food have been served to students in
schools containing the bacteria E. Coli O121 from the New York based
company “Farm Fresh”, and yes, cases have shown up in New York as
a result. No deaths have been confirmed, however two cases of
Hemolytic-uremic
syndrome (HUS) have resulted from the 27 cases of infection, one
third of which required hospitalization. 81 percent of cases have
been in those under 21, so most of it has come from school foods. HUS
is also a rather nasty disease, a kidney infection that carries a
5-10% mortality rate and is predominant in children. Symptons can
show up unpredictably and with wide variety, treatment is
controversial yet sometimes unecessary as the disease can
spontaneously resolve itself. Dialysis is used as required, but
typically simple observation for the duration of the infection is
enough.
E.
Coli O121 is a Shiga toxin producing strain of E. Coli (STEC) which
is part of the STEC serogroups, with E O157 being the most common in
the US. Non-O157 serogroups (E O121 being one of those) are less
frequently tested for and as a result less identified, however, this
particular strain (E O121) is still particularly dangerous in regards
to E. Coli due to the aforementioned chance of causing of HUS as well
as much more common symptons such as bloody diarrheah, it's
particulary unpleasant as far as E. Coli goes.
As
far as the recalled food goes, watch out for any “Farm Fresh”
products with the sell by date of January
1, 2013 to September 29, 2014.
-Lukas Louwagie
