We just spoke with the Glynn County health department in Georgia regarding the 3 cases of E. coli the county is investigating. All of the cases are E. coli O157:H7, the strain of E. coli most often responsible for E. coli outbreaks. E. coli O157:H7 causes hemorrhagic colitis, severe dehydration, and, in about 2%-7% of the cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which destroys red blood cells and causes kidney failure. The people most at risk for becoming seriously ill or dying from an E. coli O157:H7 infection are young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
In Georgia, one of the E. coli victims is, according to news reports, fighting for his life:
A 68 year old Glynn County man, diagnosed with the bacteria, is fighting for his life. The family has asked us not to identify him.
His daughter tells First Coast News her father is doing better. Doctors told her last week he most likely would not survive. He was on life support and his kidneys had shut down.
Delaney La Rosa now says her father is surprising everyone. He came off life support Sunday night and his kidneys are now functioning.
La Rosa says her dad is in a semi-coma because of brain swelling. (First Coast News)
Health officials are waiting for test results from Atlanta to determine if the 3 cases of E. coli O157:H7 are linked to the same source, which would make these three cases an outbreak. An outbreak is defined by the CDC as an incident in which two or more cases of an illness result from the same source.
Pritzker | Ruohonen is monitoring this situation. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s contact form.
