Washoe County E. coli Outbreak News
On November 3, 2015, a single case of E. coli food poisoning was reported to the Washoe County Health District. Following soon after, seven more cases were reported. Phil Ulibarri, spokesman for the Washoe County Health District later confirmed that at least six of those cases could be linked to a common source: a Reno-area restaurant called The Twisted Fork.
Information on E. coli
Diagnosing E. coli Foodborne Illness
A diagnosis of E. coli foodborne illness can usually be confirmed by performing a stool culture, a type of laboratory test that can detect the presence of the bacterium in an infected person’s stool. Your doctor can order a stool culture if he or she thinks testing is necessary.
About E. coli and E. coli Symptoms and Complications
E. coli is a type of bacterium that lives in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. While many strains of E. coli are harmless, some strains are capable of producing a powerful toxin known as Shiga toxin, and can cause severe, life-threatening illness. These pathogenic strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli are often referred to as “STEC.”
Symptoms of E. coli infection may include severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Sometimes a low-grade fever is present. Children and the elderly are at greatest risk for suffering complications resulting from E. coli infection, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP).
For more information on food poisoning visit Food Poisoning Information.
For more information on E. coli, visit CDC E.coli Information.
Twisted Fork Restaurant Closes Temporarily During Washoe County E. coli Outbreak Investigation
As a result of this outbreak, The Twisted Fork has decided to close its doors until the exact source of the contamination is identified.
“Today we learned that The Twisted Fork was among locations possibly tied to reported cases of E. coli,” read a Facebook statement posted by The Twisted Fork. “We have voluntarily closed the restaurant to give the Washoe County Health District total access and our full cooperation during their investigation to determine a cause.”
Twisted Fork General Manager Joe Clements, commenting on the situation, expressed that the restaurant’s “overwhelming concern is for the health of the people who are sick…It’s a horrible situation…”.
Contact the Weinberg Law Firm for a Free Food Poisoning Lawsuit Evaluation
If you or a loved one are diagnosed with food poisoning, are awaiting medical confirmation of infection, or have a question regarding a food poisoning lawsuit, you can request a free legal case evaluation by calling the The Weinberg Law Firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Our phones are answered 24/7.
Please see E Coli Panera Bread, Dole Salad Recall and Dole Listeria Lawsuit for recent food recall, outbreak, and food poisoning litigation news.
