Marler Clark represents one of the families in this outbreak.
The city of Chico California issued a swim advisory for the Sycamore Pool after high levels of bacteria were found in the water. Two teens have been hospitalized with E.coli symptoms and are being cared for in the ICU at Davis. The pool has been closed to the public as the Public Health Department monitors the levels of bacteria in the water. See article in the Chico Enterprise Record.
The city of Chico and Butte County Public Health sent out a press release warning the public of this outbreak and requesting that residents not swim in the pool and prevent pets from swimming in this body of water as well.
“Water testing levels are submitted to the Regional Water Board and (the California Environmental Protection Agency),” said Lisa Almaguer, the public information officer for Butte County Public Health. “Both agencies have authority over the water in the pool. The Facility itself is run by the city of Chico so they’re the ones who coordinate the water testing weekly.”
The Butte County Public Health Department and the city of Chico are working together to monitor the water as they investigate this E.coli incident. They advise the community to use caution when swimming in local waterways; rinse off with clean water after swimming, wash hands with soap prior to eating and avoid swallowing water while swimming.
Symptoms of illness caused by E. coli O157 typically include stomach cramps and diarrhea, often with bloody stools, but only a low-grade or no fever. People typically become ill two to five days after exposure, but this period can range from one to eight days. Most people recover in five to 10 days. However, about 5% of E. coli O157 infections lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that involves acute kidney failure and other severe problems. Treatment with fluids can help prevent HUS, but E. coli O157 gastroenteritis should not be treated with antibiotics, which can increase the likelihood of HUS.
Anyone who believes they may have developed an E. coli O157 infection should contact their health care provider and the local health department.
William “Bill” Marler has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli Outbreak which was chronicled in the book, “Poisoned” and in the recent Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary by the same name. Bill work has been profiled in the New Yorker, “A Bug in the System;” the Seattle Times, “30 years after the deadly E. coli outbreak, A Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;” the Washington Post, “He helped make burgers safer, Now he is fighting food poisoning again;” and several others.
E. coli: Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $900 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.
If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.