A high school freshman in Colorado, Kamberlyn Bowler, is hospitalized with kidney failure due to E. coli poisoning after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. The outbreak has affected at least 75 people in 13 states, resulting in one death. McDonald’s has identified slivered onions as the likely source of contamination and has removed them from their menu items. The distributor of the onions has recalled produce from their Colorado facility. Kamberlyn’s symptoms started with a fever and stomach pain, leading to a severe E. coli infection and renal failure. She has undergone multiple rounds of dialysis and her kidneys are showing signs of functioning again, but the extent of lasting damage is unknown. She plans to sue McDonald’s, along with many others affected by the outbreak.
Dr. Nicole Iovine notes that HUS is a rare complication of E. coli infection that affects a small percentage of patients, usually very young or very old individuals. Kamberlyn was previously healthy and active, factors that may aid in her recovery. McDonald’s has expressed regret over the outbreak, with their president vowing to regain customers’ trust. Attorney Ron Simon, representing Kamberlyn and others affected, anticipates more cases will emerge and hopes the lawsuits will identify the breakdown in food safety procedures to prevent future incidents.
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