Ten US states—Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming—reported infections between September 27 and October 11.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27 of the 49 cases that have been documented have occurred in Colorado, including one child who has serious kidney problems and an elderly person who passed away.
Since it often takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak, the public health service stated that the number of illnesses is probably much greater and that new instances may not have been recorded yet.
Although the exact substance causing the illness is unknown, all of the persons contacted for this outbreak said they had eaten at McDonald’s before getting sick, and the majority of them acknowledged having the well-known Quarter Pounder.
In order to identify the tainted ingredient, McDonald’s is collaborating with public health authorities; investigators are reportedly concentrating on beef and onions.
The fast-food chain informed the CDC that it has taken the beef patties and sliced onions used in Quarter Pounders out of its locations in the states that were impacted. In such locations, the burgers might not be available for a while.