Cases of E. coli outbreaks at McDonald’s are under investigation in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – People across the country and in New Mexico have been sickened by E. coli traced to McDonald’s quarter-pounders.

At least five New Mexico residents are recovering from an E. coli outbreak. KOB 4 spoke with state health officials about the concerns and what symptoms you should keep an eye on.

“You may have blood in your stool, become dehydrated and have quite severe vomiting. Typically this begins two to three days after exposure. For most people, it lasts five to seven days without medication. Most people recover, but certain people with other medical conditions are at higher risk,” said Jose Acosta, director of the public health division at the New Mexico Department of Health.

According to Acosta, it is very important that older people and children go to the hospital immediately if they experience these symptoms.

He says at-risk populations may experience the most complications. They are also working with the CDC to ensure cases remain current.

“We track emergency department visits whether they are flu-related or COVID-related. This is something we track, identify and report and then we investigate,” Acosta said.

KOB 4 went to a local McDonald’s on Wednesday and spoke to some people who were thinking about grabbing a bite to eat. They said they were relieved that McDonald’s had removed quarter pounders from the menu for the time being.

But many of them say it definitely makes them think twice about how much fast food they eat.

“Yeah, definitely, that makes me think about it more than twice. It’s definitely disgusting. I used to eat a lot like fast food, and I mean, I heard about it, so I just started cooking from home.”

How long do investigators narrow down when people ate the infected burgers? The CDC reports that the illnesses began between September 27 and October 11, and symptoms usually appear a few days after exposure to the bacteria.

NBC News reported earlier Wednesday that the famous diced onions on the burgers could be the culprit. But researchers are still investigating the origin of the bacteria.

In addition to monitoring symptoms and seeing a doctor, is there anything else people should do if they fear they may have been infected with E. coli?

The Department of Health has a 24/7 hotline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) that can connect you with a nurse if you would like to address your situation through them.