First death reported in E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce

One person has died from E. coli linked to romaine lettuce, marking the first death in the expanding outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday.

The CDC reported 23 more cases of illness since Friday’s update, bringing the total number of people made sick by the outbreak to 121 people in 25 states.

About 51 percent of those who became sick have been hospitalized, the CDC reported, based on information the agency has on 102 of the people who have fallen ill.

The agency has warned against eating or buying romaine lettuce unless the consumer can confirm it isn’t from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region. Most people recover from the illness in about a week, according to the CDC, but it can sometimes last longer and be more severe. Symptoms include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting. 

The Food and Drug Administration has identified one farm as a source of part of the outbreak. Most of the illnesses aren’t related to that farm, and the agency is investigating dozens of other fields as potential other sources.