--- title: E. coli date: 2012-01-01T10:42:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/e.-coli" section: Litigation Landing Pages --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) / # E. coli *E. coli* are bacteria that can cause serious, sometimes fatal, infections in humans. *E. coli* outbreaks have been traced to foods such as hamburgers, spinach, raw milk, water, and food served at restaurants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that *E. coli* causes 2,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. ## Symptoms of E. coli Infection Symptoms of *E. coli* infection usually begin two to five days after *E. coli* bacteria are ingested and initially involve sudden gastrointestinal pain and stomach cramping followed by diarrhea within 24 hours. Bloody diarrhea is a classic symptom of *E. coli* infection. **Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)** Ten percent of *E. coli* victims develop [hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)](http://www.about-hus.com "Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome"), which can cause kidney failure, damage to the central nervous system, and ultimately death. ## What to do if you think you have E. coli If you think you or someone you know has contracted an *E. coli* infection consult a doctor immediately. If you have tested positive for an *E. coli* infection you should report the incident to your local health department to help prevent a larger outbreak. The Marler Clark *E. coli* lawyers have [unmatched E. coli litigation experience](http://www.marlerclark.com/practice_areas/view/e-coli-o157h7-outbreak-litigation "unmatched E. coli litigation experience") and are readily available to talk with you about your legal options regarding any damages or losses incurred as a result of your *E. coli* infection. **Marler Clark has represented hundreds of *E. coli* victims and is the only firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on plaintiff foodborne illness litigation.** **Talk to Experienced Food Poisoning Attorneys** The law firm’s attorneys have represented victims of notable *E. coli* outbreaks such as the [2006 Dole Spinach *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/dole-spinach-e-coli-outbreak-nationwide "Dole Spinach E. coli outbreak"), the [2007 Cargill beef *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/cargill-e-coli-outbreak-minnesota "2007 Cargill beef E. coli outbreak"), and the landmark [1993 Jack in the Box *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/jack-in-the-box-e-coli-outbreak-western-states "1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak"). For a free consultation with a Marler Clark *E. coli* lawyer simply fill out the form on the right or call 800-884-9840. There is no cost to you. ### E. coli outbreaks and recalls August 23, 2023 ###### [Listeria outbreak: Three die after drinking contaminated milkshakes](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/listeria-outbreak-three-die-after-drinking-contaminated-milkshakes) Three people have died, and three others are in hospital after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria in the US state of Washington, health officials … July 12, 2023 ###### [2011 Listeria outbreaks linked to cantaloupes: A history](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/2011-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-cantaloupes-a-history) A total of 148 persons infected with any of the five outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported to the CDC from 28 states. The … May 20, 2023 ###### [A quick look at the 2018 Hepatitis A outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/a-quick-look-at-the-2018-hepatitis-a-outbreak) Litigation proceeded in a Virginia state court against Tropical Smoothie and the strawberry supply chain. 134 people with Hepatitis A were reported from nine states … [1. View all ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) ## All E. coli Resources [###### E. coli Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) [###### E. coli O157:H7 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) [###### Non-O157 STEC ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) [###### Sources of E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) [###### Transmission of and Infection with E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) [###### Symptoms of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/symptoms-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Complications of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/complications-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Treatment for E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/treatment-for-e-coli-infection) [###### How is E. coli Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/how-is-e-coli-infection-diagnosed) [###### Preventing E. coli Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/preventing-e-coli-infection) [###### E. coli Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-outbreaks) [###### Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/real-life-impacts-of-e-coli-infection-and-hus) [###### E. coli Recalls ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-recalls) [###### References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)