Community Corner
CDC Warns About Raw Sprouts and E. coli
In Michigan, two cases of the illness have been identified and five are suspected, tied to Jimmy John's sandwich shops.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning about cases of E. coli tied to raw clover sprouts, including two confirmed cases in Michigan.
According to the CDC's website, a total of 14 people have been sickened across the country, and the "likely cause" of the outbreak has been traced back to eating the sprouts at Jimmy John's restaurants.
The Oakland Press reports that state health officials suspect five additional cases of E. coli in Michigan, three of which are in Oakland County. Illnesses have also been reported in Kent, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties, and people became ill between Feb. 6 and Feb. 12, according to the report.
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A Kirksville, MO Jimmy John's franchise owner told KirksvilleDailyExpress.com that sprouts have been permanently pulled from the restaurant's menu nation-wide. The website reported that similar outbreaks were tied to the same cause in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
The CDC recommends that "Children, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts)." Anyone who believes they may have been sickened should contact their health care provider.
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For more information, visit CDC.gov.
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