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Spinach E.coli Outbreak May be Over but not for Victims

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Tijuana, MexicoEtna Sosa moved to California in January of this year. She loved to shop in U.S. supermarkets and among her groceries were always bags of washed, baby spinach.

A few months later, Etna got severe diarrhea and had to return to Mexico. E.coli was the culprit but she had no idea and continued to get sicker.

spinach e.coli outbreak"It was awful, I felt so weak and was very dehydrated," she says. "I went to my family doctor but he couldn't figure out what was the matter with me. One day I had a fever and the next day I was fine, but the headaches were constant. He took a blood sample but found nothing untoward. I went back to California and didn't change my diet. Why would I think there was any danger in eating spinach? On the contrary, it is supposed to be good for you.

The prescription he gave me would help for a few hours, but I still had diarrhea. So I went back to Mexico again (I don't have medical insurance) and saw another doctor. This time I had a more thorough exam: I had to give him a stool sample and urine sample and he took three vials of blood. By now I had a few more symptoms: my neck was really hurting and I had a severe sore throat. He told me that my thyroid gland was inflamed. When my blood tests came back, it was determined that I had anemia. I was given shot of vitamins and iron right away and started to feel a bit better. But a few weeks later I got diarrhea back again, so I had to take more antibiotics. By now I had lost almost 40 pounds!

All this time I still don't know what is causing my illness, but all the tests hadn't come back from the lab. Then, in September, I was in Mexico City and watched the news on television about spinach and how it had caused an e.coli outbreak. I said 'ohmigod'! All this time, we could never figure out why I was so sick, not even the doctors. I phoned my family doctor after I figured out this was the cause of my illness. He told me that, because I was sick for so long, I had passed the dangerous stage but he also told me that I could have died. When my test results came back, it was determined that I had an E.coli infection.

I don't remember what brand of bagged spinach I bought, but if I see the package again, I will recognize it - that is, if I ever see it again as they have been pulled from the shelf. I don't even want to think about eating spinach or anything like it, including lettuce or chard - just the thought of eating spinach makes me ill.

Because I don't have medical insurance, going back to Mexico to see a doctor was very expensive. I missed about 60 days of work in total because I couldn't do anything for so long, my legs would shake if I stood up for any length of time, it was like I lost my muscle control.

Because I took so many days off work, I also lost my job - and right now I am unemployed. It's going to take time. I feel really upset - I can't even explain in English my frustration. How could this happen? I could have died. I have since learned that this problem started years ago and they didn't put in any controls - it was like a time bomb, bound to explode sooner or later. Food distributors have to be more careful - why isn't produce regulated like beef?"

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Fresh Bagged Spinach Legal Help

If you or a loved one has been infected with E. coli O157:H7 after eating spinach, please contact a [Fresh Bagged Spinach] lawyer who will evaluate your claim at no charge.

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