More than 100 people have been struck down with E.coli believed to be linked to onions from McDonald's.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)( CDC ) said in an investigation update that traceback data points to the fast food chain being the likely source of the outbreak with many infected having eaten Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
As of today, a total of 104 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 which has been reported from 14 states in America.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from September 12, 2024, to October 21, 2024.
Of 98 people with information available, 34 have been hospitalized, and four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure.
One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado. This person is not one of those who developed HUS, the CDC said.
But the organisation says the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.
This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick.
Of the 81 people interviewed, 80 (99%) report eating at McDonald's. 75e people were able to remember specific menu items they ate at McDonald's. Of 75 people with information, 63 (84%) reported a menu item containing fresh slivered onions.
Some people in this outbreak reported traveling to other states before their illness started. At least seven people ate at McDonald's during their travel.
FDA tested recalled onions and one sample tested positive for non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The E.coli found in onions was not the outbreak strain and no human illnesses have been linked to this strain. Additional testing results will be released when available by FDA.
Because these onions are recalled and past shelf life, it is not necessary to avoid eating onions or other foods made with onions the CDC say.
McDonald's pulled fresh, slivered onions and fresh quarter pound beef patties while a specific food ingredient was being determined as the source of illness.
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