NJ E. Coli Cases Part Of Nationwide Outbreak, CDC Says

The NJ Department of Health's investigation into an E. Coli outbreak that might be associated with Panera Bread has spread into six more states with 17 total reported cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control Prevenction (CDC).

The CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced they are now investigating a "multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections".

This investigation includes the same E. coli O157:H7 strain recently reported by the NJ DOH in four counties. (See Related: Panera Bread Possible Culprit In E. Coli Cases In 4 NJ Counties)

NJ DOH spokeswoman Donna Leusner said the investigation is still in the preliminary stages and is referring all questions and comments to the CDC.

Warren County Health Department had said the E. coli cases were potentially from "local Panera Breads," however, the CDC or NJ DOH have yet to name a restaurant chain.

Panera Bread has not returned Patch's multiple requests for comment since last Wednesday.

"The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections," according to a release by the CDC. State and local public health officials are interviewing ill people to determine what they ate and other exposures in the week before their illness started."

A total of eight cases have been reported in New Jersey including four in Hunterdon County, two in Somerset County, one in Warren County and one in Middlesex County. All eight of those people have been hospitalized and five of those have been discharged.

Other states now reporting cases include Conneticut, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. New Jersey has the highest among reported, followed by Idaho with four cases, according to the CDC.

The cases began being reported between March 22 and March 31 with people ranging in age from 12 to 84 years, with an average age of 41.

Among the sick people, 65 percent are female. Six people have been hospitalized, including one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.

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