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The Arizona State Health Laboratory of the Department of Health Services has confirmed five cases of spinach-related E.-coli O157 that is of the same strain or DNA fingerprint as the one associated with the national outbreak.
This development provides further support for the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration for consumers to avoid eating fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products until further notice, said acting state epidemiologist Ken Komatsu.
Of the five cases, two are from Maricopa County, and one each from Pima, Yuma, and Yavapai Counties. Three cases are children and two are adults. All five were hospitalized, four have completely recovered and one remains in the hospital. No one has died from this outbreak in Arizona.
Other specimens are being tested at the lab and results are expected later this week.
No matter how many cases, it is important for all Arizonans to follow the FDA and CDC advisories of avoiding fresh spinach, until the FDA can assure the safety of this produce, said Komatsu. He also noted that frozen and canned spinach are safe to eat.
For local information:
Jeanene Fowler, Maricopa County Public Health, 602-506-4926
Patti Woodcock, Pima County Health Department, 520-740-3700
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