Colorado teen hospitalized with kidney failure after eating E. coliinfected McDonald's burgers
Oct 29, 2024
A Colorado teen told NBC News she is battling kidney failure as a result of E. coli poisoning linked to McDonalds Quarter Pounders.Kamberlyn Bowler, a 15-year-old from Grand Junction, spoke exclusively with the outlet, reportedly stating she was a healthy and active high school freshman before things took a turn after she went to her local McDonalds several times to get her favorite meal.Her symptoms began with a fever before progressing to bloody diarrhea and vomiting, she told NBC News. She initially went to the emergency room, but scans found nothing. Later she went back to the hospital and tests showed she had severe renal failure from an E. coli infection.RELATED STORY | McDonald's E. coli outbreak linked to 26 more illnesses, bringing total to 75At least 75 people across 13 states have been infected with E. coli after reportedly eating McDonalds Quarter Pounders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Most of those cases have been in Colorado, including one person who died from the infection.Symptoms from an E. coli infection typically start three to four days after ingesting the bacteria, but most people recover within a week. However, there are rare and severe cases, like Bowlers, in which the infection can develop into a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems and even death.Testing linked the outbreak to onions served on the burgers, and one of the fast food chains suppliers Taylor Farms in California issued a recall. Quarter Pounders were briefly taken off McDonalds menu until further testing ruled out its beef as the E. coli source.RELATED STORY | McDonald's Quarter Pounders return to the menu after testing rules out beef as E. coli sourceMeanwhile, Bowler and her family told NBC News they plan to sue. For now, they are focused on her recovery as she undergoes multiple rounds of dialysis.