Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 Infections Linked to Raw Clover Sprouts (Final Update)

Posted August 1, 2014 2:15 PM ET

This particular outbreak appears to be over. However, E. coli is still an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information aboutE. coli, and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found on the CDC E. coli General Information web page.

Highlights

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This outbreak appears to be over.
A total of 19 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli O121 (STEC O121) were reported from six states.
- The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: California (1), Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (2), Utah (1), and Washington (11).
- 44% of ill persons were hospitalized. No ill persons developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths were reported.
Epidemiology and traceback investigations conducted by local, state, and federal officials indicated that contaminated raw clover sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Idaho was the likely source of this outbreak.
Evergreen Fresh Sprouts is no longer using the seed lot linked to illnesses in this outbreak.
- Sprouts produced by this firm from this seed lot are likely no longer available for consumption given the approximately 14-day shelf life of raw clover sprouts.
Although this outbreak appears to be over, E. coli is still an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about E. coli and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection can be found on the CDC E. coli Web Page.