The following is an update from the CDC, released this afternoon.

• Based on new information from Alaska, CDC is expanding its warning to cover all types of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. This warning now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing romaine.
• Newly reported ill people in Alaska reported eating lettuce from whole heads of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.
• The new Alaska cases will be included in the next case count update; they are not reflected in this posting.
• No common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified at this time.

Expanded advice:

• People who have store-bought romaine lettuce at home, including whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick.
• If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
• Package labels often do not identify growing regions. CDC is advising consumers to throw out any romaine lettuce in their homes because it may be difficult to tell whether it is from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.
• Do not buy or eat romaine lettuce at a grocery store or restaurant unless you can confirm that it is not romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region. Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Ask your suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce.
• People get sick from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli an average of 3 to 4 days after swallowing the germ. Most people get diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps and vomiting.
• Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.
• Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection and report your illness to your local health department.
• This investigation is ongoing, including work to identify the source of the romaine lettuce.
• CDC will provide more information as it becomes available.

If you have further questions about this outbreak, please call the CDC media line at (404) 639-3286. If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.