THE E. COLI CRISIS

BY ISHAN VAISH – Escherichia coli is a particularly nasty bacterial infection. If caught quickly, E. coli might just seem like a slightly more extreme stomach ache; however, if left untreated or not caught soon enough, E. coli can result in death. Thus, when doctors all across the country started to see a flood of E. coli patients this past March, it did not take the CDC long to realize they were dealing with a potential outbreak.

E. coli outbreaks are relatively routine; the last major outbreak ended this past January. That being said, because of the potential severity of the disease, it is imperative that Public Health officials take action as soon as it becomes apparent that an outbreak is present. In this case, however, local public health officials were unsure as to what caused this outbreak. The first reported cases started coming in on March 2nd, and within the next month and a half, there 100 new cases spanned six states. While officials quickly started searching for the source, E. coli contamination is difficult to pinpoint because it usually occurs when the E. coli found in a slaughtered cow’s intestines spreads to another food source. Because this often goes unnoticed, it becomes very difficult for officials to determine the exact source of the infection.

Thankfully, after more than a month of investigation, the CDC was able to formally announce ground beef as the contaminated source. Ground beef is a prime example of a contamination source because of its role in the slaughtering process. While the CDC is currently unclear as to where the ground beef became contaminated, they have issued an advisory over the consumption of ground beef. In fact, the CDC has advised people to avoid any unpasteurized dairy products or juices at the moment and thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have had E. coli exposure. They have even advised particular caution when eating fruits and vegetables that appear questionable in cleanliness. The reason behind such an expansive advisory stems from the fact that the CDC are unsure of where and how E. coli affected the ground beef. As a result, they do not want to rule out any food source until they have discovered the mechanism behind the contamination. Moreover, because of the breadth of this ambiguity, they have specifically issued these warning for young children and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of E. coli.

Because the outbreak is still a threat, it is important that UGA students stay alert for any symptoms that may be indicative of the disease. Common symptoms include diarrhea that may initially seem mild but does not improve. Abdominal cramping, tenderness of the stomach, and stomach pains are also common symptoms. These, coupled with vomiting and nausea, are a surefire sign that the problem is more than a simple stomach bug. While an E. coli infection can disappear within a weak if treated quickly, persistent E. coli may result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that can result in kidney failure. Common signs of HUS encompass all the symptoms of an E. coli infection along with fever, abdominal pain, fatigue, and arbitrary bruises and bleeding. HUS is not common and usually affects those individuals who have a compromised immune system.

In light of these outbreaks, there have been a series of lawsuits filed against different companies whose food has caused people to become infected with E. coli. While the results of the lawsuits are still pending, the frequency of E. coli outbreaks has incited sentiment to create new legislation to better regulate the slaughtering of cows. The recent outbreaks have made it evident that there is major room for improvement. However, the slaughtering industry has historically been slow to make any changes, especially when it comes to cows. Moreover, their influence on Congress through political action committees makes it unlikely that the government will take actions to pass regulation any time soon. Thus, it remains up in the air as to whether any changes will happen in the coming months.

E. coli outbreaks are lethal and need to be taken seriously. As college students, especially near finals season, it can be easy to put our health to the side and focus on things that seem more important. However, E. coli is a disease that needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Proactive steps to prevent E. coli infections can range from simply not eating ground beef to taking symptoms of the disease seriously, and this proactivity also extends over to the politics of these problems. As voters, college students have the power to make calls and partake in elections that can help initiate change in the food processing industry.