Drake Bentley
An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's quarter-pounder beef patties has sickened at least one Wisconsin resident, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
The agency announced at least 49 people have been sickened across 10 states, with 10 people requiring hospitalization and one death.
It's unclear what area of the state the person resides in or which McDonald's location had food contaminated with the bacteria. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The CDC said most people are reporting eating the quarter-pounder hamburger at McDonald's before becoming sick but it is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.
McDonald's stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states, according to statement from the fast-food giant. As of Tuesday, Wisconsin was not one of those states.
The first reported illness was about a month ago and the outbreak largely impacted Colorado and its surrounding states but has spread as far west as Oregon and east as Wisconsin, according to the CDC. The reported death was an older adult and occurred in Colorado, the agency said.
The CDC said it can take three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak and the amount of people infected with the bacteria is likely larger than reported as some people are treated for illness but never test for E. coli.
Most people infected with the bacteria experience severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and a high fever. Symptoms usually start three to four days after swallowing E. coli. Most people recover without treatment after five to seven days. Some people may develop serious kidney problems and need to be hospitalized.
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