December 12, 2006

Nassau County Investigating 89 Reports of Illness Linked to Eating at Taco Bell

The Nassau County Department of Health is investigating reports of 89 Nassau County residents who became ill after eating at Taco Bell restaurants. These include three probable cases of E. Coli 0157:H7 and 86 additional suspect cases under investigation. Of the total 89 patients, ten patients - two E. coli 0157:H7 probable cases and eight suspect cases - were hospitalized. Currently, two patients remain in the hospital. As New York State Department of Health provides fingerprinting patterns, probable cases are dropped from the list if the findings do not match the genetic fingerprinting of this outbreak.

Although the Health Department continues to receive new reports of people who became ill after eating at Taco Bell restaurants, the majority of these residents ate at Taco Bells more than one week ago. However, anyone who experiences or has experienced diarrheal illness on or after Nov. 15, and who ate at a Taco Bell during the previous week, should call the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 571-3680. Any resident who is experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to see his/her doctor in order to be tested for E. coli.

The Nassau County Department of Health has directed Taco Bell to test the more than 200 employees who work at seven Nassau Taco Bells associated with residents who have E. coli infection. These tests are still pending.

In all, 19 Taco Bells in Nassau County have been associated with ill individuals.

E. Coli 0157:H7 is a leading cause of food-borne illness and is often characterized by bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and little or no fever. People become infected in a variety of ways, especially by eating undercooked ground beef or contaminated fresh vegetables. Symptoms usually appear about three days after exposure, but can emerge anywhere from one to nine days.

Most people recover without specific treatment in five to ten days. However, young children and the elderly may be at increased risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious condition characterized by red blood cell destruction and kidney failure, that can result in death. Those who may be experiencing any symptoms of E. coli 0157:H7 infection should immediately seek medical care.