Colorado and Nebraska are epicenter of McDonald’s E. coli outbreak

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A severe E. coli outbreak has been linked to McDonald’s burgers, health officials said Tuesday.

Forty-nine people from 10 states have been sickened, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak is centered in the Plains and Mountain West states.

Colorado has the most infections, with 27, followed by Nebraska with nine.

Eight of Nebraska’s nine cases are in the Omaha metro area, the Douglas County Health Department said.

The other one is in Lancaster County, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

E. Coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There have been 10 hospitalizations nationwide, the CDC said, and one older person in Colorado died.

Three people have been hospitalized in the Omaha area, according to health officials.

The CDC said everyone interviewed had eaten at McDonald’s before they got sick, and most said they had a Quarter Pounder.

Investigators haven’t determined which ingredient is causing the illness, but they are focused on the beef patties and the onions.

McDonald’s said it has removed the patties and onions used for Quarter Pounders from stores in the affected states.

Symptoms of E. coli include diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting.

People usually start experiencing symptoms three to four days after exposure.