A 15-year-old high school freshman in Colorado, Kamberlyn Bowler, has been hospitalized with kidney failure, a rare complication of E. coli poisoning. She ate McDonald’s Quarter Pounders in the days before becoming ill, and is one of at least 75 people across 13 states who have been infected with E. coli after eating at the fast-food chain. McDonald’s believes the source of the contamination was slivered onions served on its Quarter Pounders, and has removed them from its menu. Kamberlyn’s mother, Brittany Randall, initially thought her daughter’s symptoms were from the flu, but they escalated, leading to Kamberlyn being airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado where she was diagnosed with HUS. She has undergone multiple rounds of dialysis and the extent of the lasting damage is unclear. Kamberlyn and her mother plan to sue McDonald’s along with 32 other victims represented by a national food poisoning attorney. McDonald’s has expressed regret over the impact on customers and pledged to make it right. Dr. Nicole Iovine, chief epidemiologist at UF Health Shands Hospital, explained that HUS is a rare complication that can lead to permanent renal failure, but Kamberlyn’s previous good health and age could work in her favor for recovery. The attorney representing Kamberlyn and other victims hopes the lawsuits will help determine where the breakdown occurred in order to prevent future outbreaks.
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Teen with E. coli battles kidney failure after dining at McDonald’s
