McHenry Co. Resident Among Illinoisans Sickened in E.Coli Outbreak Linked to Nationwide Flour Recall

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL - A McHenry County resident is among four Illinoisans who has contracted E. coli in an outbreak connected to the recently recalled General Mills flour products, the Northwest Herald reports. 

Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold told the Northwest Herald she does not have any information on where exactly the resident lives in McHenry County. She said the other three Illinois cases involved residents from suburban Cook County, Chicago and in western Brown County.

The outbreak has sickened 38 people in 20 states so far with many of the afflicted reporting they handled or ate uncooked dough.
Ten people were hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control, but none developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure linked to this strain of bacteria. No deaths have been reported.
As of May 31, the 20 states with E. coli outbreak patients were:

• Illinois: 4
• Michigan: 4
• Colorado: 4
• Minnesota: 3
• Arizona: 2
• Massachusetts: 2
• Oklahoma: 2
• Pennsylvania: 2
• Texas: 2
• Virginia: 2
• Washington: 2

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York and Wisconsin each have one reported E. coli case.

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The sick ranged in age from 1 to 95, with a median age of 18, according to the CDC. And 78 percent were female. At least 12 of the victims reported eating or playing with raw dough.

The voluntary recall, issued Tuesday, involves Gold Medal, Safeway Kitchens and Wondra flour brands. Most of the recalled product, including bleached and unbleached flour, was processed in November at a Kansas City, Missouri, facility owned by General Mills.

The reported infections began on Dec. 21, 2015, and run through May 3, 2016, but more cases still could be identified, according to the CDC.

General Mills advises people not to eat uncooked dough. Boiling, frying or baking the dough should eliminate any disease-causing bacteria.

DENNIS ROBAUGH contributed to this article

READ MORE: 4 Illinoisans Sickened in E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Nationwide Flour Recall