E. coli outbreak spreads, Wendy's cooperating with CDC

Titus Wu, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
The E. coli outbreak is potentially linked to Wendy's lettuces.
The E. coli outbreak is potentially linked to Wendy's lettuces.

At least two dozen Ohioans are or have recently become ill from E. coli, and the latest outbreak is spreading to other states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The bacteria, which typically spreads through contaminated food, still hasn't been tied to a definitive source, the CDC said, but many of the affected people have reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants.

E. coli outbreak:Wendy's removes lettuce from sandwiches as a precaution

The 24 Ohio cases are in the following counties: Wood (10), Lorain (3), Cuyahoga (2), Lucas (4), Mahoning (2), Clermont (1), Franklin (1), and Summit (1). The five additional cases were in Wood and Lucas counties.

At least two more have been hospitalized bring the total to six, the health department said, and no deaths have been reported so far. The individuals in Ohio include those with ages from 8 to 82 years old.

Nationally, the E. coli outbreak has reached almost 100 cases. Michigan has more than double the cases of Ohio, with 58 cases. Indiana has about half the number of Ohio's cases. Other states now include Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky, each with only one or two incidents.

The true number of E. coli cases may be higher given many incidents go unreported and many recover without medical treatment.

E.coli outbreak: Wendy's cooperating with CDC

As a precaution, Wendy's removed the romaine lettuce used in sandwiches from affected regions. The fast food chain based in Dublin uses a different type of romaine lettuce for its salads.

Wendy's is "fully cooperating with public health authorities on their ongoing investigation of the regional E. coli outbreak reported in certain Midwestern states," it had said in a statement. "As a company, we are committed to upholding our high standards of food safety and quality."

Two lawsuits have been filed in Ohio representing seven people against the fast food chain, according to Bill Marler, whose firm is representing the affected individuals.

Titus Wu is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: E. coli outbreak: Ohio cases rise to 24, Wendy's cooperating with CDC