Sick prisoners in Nome tied to E.coli concerns in Arizona lettuce

YUMA, Ariz. — The CDC has expanded its warning not to eat romaine lettuce sold out of Yuma after an E.coli outbreak this month left more than 50 people ill in 16 states.

Thursday's warning said consumers should not buy or eat romaine lettuce at a grocery store or restaurant “unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region.”

The CDC noted that product labels often don't identify growing regions; any lettuce not marked should be tossed, even if part of it has been eaten and nobody became ill. An earlier warning did not include whole heads or hearts; the latest warning covers everything.

The warning prompted several restaurants in Southern Arizona to stop selling salads temporarily, while others reported they have safe shipments of lettuce and are serving it.

“We recommend people throw out and do not consume whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine at this time,” said Dr. Cara Christ, AZDHS director.

The latest warning came after eight prisoners at a correctional facility in Nome, Alaska, came down with acute gastroenteritis caused by Escherichia coli (E.coli) O157:H7 bacteria.

The initial outbreak was reported April 10, with 17 people from seven states affected. To date, 31 people have been hospitalized, including five who have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to the CDC.

People generally become ill two to eight days after ingesting the bacteria (average of 3 to 4 days). Most develop diarrhea that can be bloody, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. Most people recover in a week. Infections can range from mild to life-threatening.

The warning stated that restaurants and retailers “should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region.”

No common grower, supplier, distributor or brand has been identified, according to the CDC.