The American Samoa Department of Public Health advises the public to stop eating romaine lettuce, which is mostly imported from the United States.
On November 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took action to protect consumers from exposure to the deadly food borne pathogen E. coli O157:H7 by warning everyone not to eat romaine lettuce.
FDA and members of the leafy green industry are urging withdrawal of all romaine lettuce currently in stores and held in inventory.
The Department of Health will be working with all local stores with Romain Lettuce in their inventory to discontinue selling this type of lettuce.
Locally grown lettuce is not affected by this announcement.
Symptoms of E. coli infection vary for each person, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
Some people may have a fever, which usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/38.5˚C). Most people get better within 5 to 7 days.
Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.
If you have diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine, seek medical attention right away.
If you have any questions, call the ASDOH Surveillance office at 699-4606.
