E. Coli Outbreak in Food Products
Commonly known as E. Coli, Escherichia Coli O157:H7 is the leading cause of foodborne illness, with studies showing close to 75,000 cases of illnesses and a death toll close to 100 people reported yearly. If you or a loved one has been a victim of E. Coli, please contact the New York food recall lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP today for a consultation. We are a dedicated team of legal professionals whose concern about our clients contributes to our successful representation of injury and wrongful death clients since 1990.
Though most varieties of Escherichia Coli bacteria are not dangerous, the specific strain that causes illness contains a powerful toxin. E. Coli is often caused through contamination of leafy vegetables, undercooked beef, bean sprouts and raw milk. E. Coli can also be contracted if a victim swims in or drinks sewage contaminated water. Person to person contact in families and child care centers is also a known type of transmission.
Usually illness affects people from two to eight days after exposure to the bacteria, with the average being three to four days. E. Coli infection can result in bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramping, kidney failure and even death. In some instances the infection causes no obvious foodborne illness symptoms at all. The infection may cause a slight fever and lasts from five to ten days.
The infection can cause a serious complication know as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), that affects some victims, particularly under five years of age and the elderly. HUS is a condition where red blood cells are damaged causing kidney failure. Nearly 8% of the patients who seek medical attention for E. Coli symptoms suffer from this complication. HUS is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in children within the United States, and E. Coli is the leading cause of HUS.
Speak With a New York E. Coli Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered illness as the result of E. Coli contamination in New York, please contact a lawyer at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP immediately. Call (212) 986-7353 for a free consultation.