The outbreak, which began in mid-March, has spread to 16 states and sickened at least 60 people, according to The Washington Post. Fifty-three people required hospitalization, including five individuals who developed a form of potentially life-threatening kidney failure.
The CDC originally identified bagged and pre-chopped romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Ariz., as the likely source of the outbreak. However, the agency expanded its warning after discovering eight inmates at an Alaskan prison were sickened after eating lettuce from whole heads of romaine.
The updated warning now applies to all types of romaine lettuce, ranging from whole hearts of romaine to chopped salad mixes. Consumers should not purchase or consume these products unless they can confirm the lettuce was not grown in Yuma.
The CDC has not pinpointed a common grower, supplier, distributor or brand tied to the contaminated lettuce.
More articles on infection control:
CDC: Hepatitis C infections spiked 22% from 2015-16
UPMC notifies 4,700 patients after employee tests positive for tuberculosis
Early catheter removal improves survival among bloodstream infection patients
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