The number of E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s hamburgers in the U.S. has risen to 75

The number of people who fell ill due to the Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria detected in the “Quarter Pounder” hamburgers of the fast food chain McDonald’s in the U.S. has risen to 75.

The international hamburger chain McDonald’s is facing a food scandal in the U.S. According to a statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the number of cases linked to the E.coli bacteria found in McDonald’s “Quarter Pounder” hamburgers has increased from 49 to 75, with 22 of them hospitalized. The bacteria have been reported in 13 states: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, and Michigan.

1 person has died

Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that 49 people were affected by the bacteria, and one of them died. The statement indicated that the specific food item causing the cases has not yet been definitively identified, but experts are suspecting chopped onions and beef patties.

Officials reminded that symptoms usually begin 3-4 days after the bacteria is ingested, and most people recover within a week, warning those experiencing high fever over 38.8 degrees, diarrhea lasting more than 3 days or bloody diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth and throat, or dizziness upon standing to seek medical assistance.

It can cause illness

Normally, E.coli bacteria, which can be found in the intestinal environment of humans and animals, can cause life-threatening diseases like “Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)” in some subtypes. It is known that E.coli bacteria, which are most commonly transmitted through food, primarily come from undercooked or raw meats, milk and dairy products, and poorly washed vegetables and fruits, accounting for 85% of cases.