Number Of Sick NJ Residents In E. Coli Outbreak Triples: Where?

New Jersey and California each now have the highest number of people sickened in a multi-state E. Coli outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey's numbers have tripled in just three weeks, and officials have identified the state's affected areas.

Since Nov. 20, the number of New Jersey cases has risen from three to 12, according to the CDC.

The highest number of cases have been reported in Bergen County, with four. One case was reported in each of the following counties: Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Morris, Ocean, Sussex and Union, according to the state Department of Health. It's not yet known where the additional case was diagnosed as of Dec. 17.

The source of the outbreak has been romaine lettuce. While it's begun to return to supermarkets in other states, romaine lettuce has remained absent from New Jersey food shelves since the CDC issued an alert last month advising consumers and retailers to avoid eating or selling it.

According to the CDC, 52 people in 15 states including New Jersey have been infected with E. Coli in the latest outbreak.

The illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 8-31. The CDC says at least 13 people were hospitalized and one person developed a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Additionally, 18 people have become ill in two Canadian provinces.

An investigation indicates that romaine lettuce from coastal regions, particularly those grown in California, is a likely source of this outbreak.

In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Twenty-four of 29 people interviewed reported eating romaine lettuce, according to the CDC.

The CDC said consumers who have any type of romaine lettuce in their homes should throw it away even if some of it was eaten and no one got sick.

Here's what the CDC further said about the advice to throw away any type of romaine lettuce:

• This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad.
• If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine or whether a salad mix contains romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
• Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where romaine was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing romaine, the CDC said.

Reporting by Feroze Dhanoa, Patch National Staff

Photos via Shutterstock and CDC