Five cases of E. coli in NM possibly linked to McDonald’s under investigation by state health officials

Five reported cases of E. coli in the state possibly linked to a recent outbreak from a McDonald’s menu item are under investigation by the New Mexico Department of Health, state officials said Wednesday.

The cases, all in Bernalillo County, come as E. coli has sickened others across the country, resulting in the death of one person, according to federal health officials. The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the cases were found in people ages 13 to 88 in close to a dozen states, potentially a result of raw onions on Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

New Mexico health officials said the five cases haven’t resulted in any deaths, but said at least one person was in the hospital. The particular type of E. coli, the strain O157, is “the most well-known type” of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria, state health officials said. They said the strain often includes symptoms of diarrhea — in some cases bloody — vomiting, stomach cramps, fever and nausea.

The DOH added that most people recover within a week, but that 5% to 10% of cases “can develop a very serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome,” which can increase in people who take antidiarrheal drugs and antibiotics.

State Health Secretary Patrick Allen said in a statement that the department is “taking this outbreak seriously and taking part in a multi-state investigation being led” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others are also investigating, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.

When a Journal reporter went to four McDonald’s locations in Northeast Albuquerque on Wednesday afternoon — Jefferson and Osuna; San Mateo and Academy; Wyoming and Harper; and San Pedro and Holly — all had “back soon” signs on the menu for its Quarter Pounder items.

At least one cashier said the store sold out of the menu item, while another cashier said corporate told them to stop selling the hamburger. None mentioned the potential contamination of E. coli.

The E. coli outbreak was first reported late Tuesday by the CDC, which said the possible infections took place between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, the AP reported. The one person who died as a result of the infection was in Colorado.

Reached for comment Wednesday, a McDonald’s spokesperson pointed the Journal to the company’s corporate website showing safety protocols at its restaurants.

The company didn’t respond to Journal questions, including whether the fast-food chain was aware of the reported cases in New Mexico, and if it planned to take certain items off local menus and other corrective actions.

McDonald’s removed Quarter Pounders from menus in one-fifth of its restaurants in the country, the AP reported.