Coli outbreak linked to Costco sickens at least 19 people

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a minimum of 19 people in seven states have developed E. coli infection after having rotisserie chicken salad served at stores of Costco Wholesale Corporation.

The infections have been reported in Montana, Utah, Colorado, California, Missouri, Virginia and Washington, CDC said.

“So there’s a chance that it may be here in Las Vegas- we just don’t know yet”, says Dr. Daliah Wachs, who describes the Costco E. Coli strain as particularly severe when compared to the recent E. Coli outbreak at Chipotle locations across OR and Washington that impacted more than 40 customers.

“I am not aware in 25 years of doing this of one chicken outbreak linked to this strain of E.coli O157”, Marler said.

“The epidemiologic evidence available to investigators at this time suggests that rotisserie chicken salad made and sold in Costco stores is a likely source of this outbreak”, the CDC reported.

“It’s a national recall”, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spokesman Larry Lewis said, adding that Costco stores statewide have pulled the affected product from their shelves.

The retailer removed the chicken salad from its shelves after the CDC notified the company of the issue on Friday.

Symptoms of E.Coli O157:H7 usually appear two to 10 days after eating contaminated food.

Authorities are working to discover the source of the contamination as the investigation hasn’t yet identified what special ingredient in the salad is linked to the bacteria.

Meanwhile, CDC has directed people to throw away the chicken salad and rotisserie chicken salad which they bought before November 20 from Costco stores.

One case of E. coli has been confirmed in King County. That strain was identified as E. coli 026. However, five people have been hospitalized and two have suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a form of kidney failure. Watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea with blood are early symptoms of E. coli.

He considers another fixing in the salad, like celery or onion which could have become tainted with animal waste, is to attribute.