The E. coli traced to chopped lettuce that caused an outbreak last week in 11 states, including Connecticut, makes people ill because the bacteria produces a toxin known as Shiga.

This E. coli, identified as E. coli 0157:H7 (or simply 0157), is the most common Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it causes 265,000 to become ill, 3,600 hospitalizations and 30 deaths in the U.S. each year. When there’s an E. coli outbreak, 0157 is usually responsible.

“This type of E. coli can be serious,” says Dr. Virginia Bieluch, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. “Patients usually get sick three or four days after they ingest the bacteria. They may develop abdominal pain and cramping.”

And, possibly, high fever (less than 101 degrees) or bloody stool. It can also cause vomiting. Most people recover within a week.

“A significant number of these people have been hospitalized,” says Dr. Bieluch. “This disease can get very severe.”

Fewer than 10 percent of people with E. coli 0157 develop kidney failure, hemolytic uremic syndrome, that can be life-threatening. Symptoms include losing the pinkish hue in your cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, fatigue and less frequent urination.

This outbreak, caused by chopped lettuce grown in Yuma, Ariz., has been linked to 35 cases of illness in 11 states. (Two of the illnesses were in Connecticut.) Three people have been hospitalized with kidney failure. Update: The CDC expanded the warning to all types of romaine lettuce April 20 after the outbreak spread to a total of at least 16 states and sickened at least 60 people. The new warning followed reports that eight inmates at an Nome, Alaska, prison became ill after eating whole-head romaine lettuce grown in Yuma.

People at greater risk for foodborne illness, according to the CDC:

  • Pregnant women.
  • Newborns.
  • Children.
  • Older adults.
  • People with weakened immune systems (cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS).

People should avoid chopped romaine lettuce at restaurants and note the source of any bagged, chopped romaine lettuce in your  refrigerator.

“If you have chopped lettuce and you’re not sure where it came from, discard it right away,” says Dr. Bieluch. “Even if you have eaten some and you feel fine.

Feeling sick? If you need immediate medical attention, call 9-1-1, visit your local emergency department or contact your local Hartford HealthCare/GoHealth Urgent Care Center.