On Dec. 14, 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections linked to Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

E. coli O157 causes diarrhea that is often bloody and accompanied by severe abdominal cramps, but fever is typically absent or mild. Persons who develop such symptoms are advised to consult a physician and to inform their local health department.

Cases in 52 of the 71 patients were confirmed, meaning that the patients’ E. coli O157 strains had the outbreak “DNA fingerprint.” E. coli O157 strains were routinely “DNA fingerprinted” at public health laboratories in all states as part of PulseNet (the network of public health laboratories that sub-type bacteria).