SALT LAKE CITY — Cases of E.Coli O157:H7 linked to a recall of Costco chicken salad that began in Washington state have reached Utah.

The Utah Department of Health announced that five cases of E.Coli O157:H7 have been reported in Utah, two males and three females ranging in age from nine to 84. Two of those have been hospitalized.

The chicken salad itself has not tested positive for the E.Coli O157:H7 bacteria. However the Utah Department of Health states in a media release that there is a “strong association between reported illness and eating the salad.”

Costco removed the chicken salad from their shelves Friday, but if the salad was bought before then, it may still be in homes.

“Consumers with ‘Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken’ item 37719 purchased from Costco in Utah should not eat it or feed it to your pets,” the media release went on to say. “You should either return it to the Costco store where it was purchased or throw it away.”

Colorado, Montana and Washington also have confirmed cases of E.Coli O157:H7 linked to the chicken salad.

“It’s a national recall,” Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spokesman Larry Lewis said, adding that Costco stores statewide have pulled the affected product from their shelves.

Symptoms

Symptoms of E.Coli O157:H7 usually appear two to 10 days after eating contaminated food. They include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which may contain blood. If there is a fever, it is usually less than 101°F. Most people recover within 5-7 days, but some cases can be severe.

In rare cases a potentially life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome can develop. Symptoms of HUS include decreased urination, fatigue and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelid. If this occurs the person affected should seek medical attention immediately.

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