Dozens of people are sickened by the E. coli outbreak linked to carrots. Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms and how they spread

Melinda Pratt’s Monday started like any other: waking the kids, turning on the TV, and making coffee in the morning.

“I had it on my news channel and I heard the carrot thing, and I leaned over to the TV and the Bunny-Luv carrots were on the screen,” she said. “I stopped everything then, and I went straight to my refrigerator and saw that I had those carrots.”

An E. coli outbreak linked to bagged organic carrots sold under several brand names, including Bunny-Luv and the store brands Kroger, Publix, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods, has led to one death and more than a dozen hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SEE ALSO: 1 death reported in carrot-related E. coli outbreak; 39 cases nationwide, CDC says

Anyone who purchased the carrots is urged not to eat them. Instead, throw them away and wash any objects or surfaces that came into contact with them with warm, soapy water.

Pratt filed a lawsuit against carrot producer Grimmway Farms in California’s Kern County Superior Court on Monday, claiming it tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Grimmway Farms declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

“We are taking this matter seriously and are conducting a thorough review of our operations, consistent with our ongoing commitment to providing customers with safe, high-quality products,” the company told CNN.

What is E.coli?

The type of bacteria involved in this outbreak is E. coli O121:H19, a strain of the dangerous Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which has been linked in the past to ground beef, romaine lettuce and water, the CDC says . Shiga toxin can enter and kill cells, causing tissue damage.

While most types of E. coli are harmless and can aid in food digestion, other types can cause health problems such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis and serious kidney problems such as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

How do you get E.coli?

People typically contract E. coli by consuming food or water contaminated with infected animal feces or through contact with feces from an infected person.

Research has shown that about half of organic food outbreaks are related to production and may be due to agricultural practices.

In order for agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables to be certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers and growers must avoid using banned substances, such as synthetic ingredients, when controlling pests, weeds, diseases and soil.

“In general, organic farms have less oversight than large, traditional farms,” says Dr. Nicole Iovine, an infectious disease specialist and chief hospital epidemiologist at University of Florida Health. “Organic farms are more likely to use compost or manure than commercially purchased fertilizers. If the compost is not properly processed so that pathogens naturally found in animal feces survive, the soil will become contaminated.”

What are the symptoms of an E. coli infection?

Pratt remembers buying Bunny-Luv carrots, her favorite snack, on September 30.

Around October 10, she says, she started having stomach problems, including mild diarrhea with bloody mucus.

“Every day it just got worse, and it just wouldn’t stop,” Pratt said. “It went from having diarrhea a few times a day, which was manageable, even stomach flu manageable, to about 10 to 15 times in one day.”

The tricky part, says Iovine, is that most of the symptoms associated with an E. coli infection — such as vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps — are also common with other foodborne illnesses, so it can be difficult to determine whether you have a have E. coli. coli infection.

Symptoms usually begin about three to four days after consuming the bacteria. Young children and older adults are more vulnerable to serious infections.

How is an E. coli infection treated?

“Most infections go away on their own,” says Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner, with responsibilities including overseeing food safety. “Patients need supportive treatment with hydration, but not specific therapy. Some benefit from antibiotics. Then there are some infections, particularly O157:H7, where antibiotics are not used and can in fact worsen the disease.”

People who have severe stomach cramps or bloody diarrhea or are unable to keep fluids down should seek medical attention, Wen said.

Pratt’s symptoms became too much to handle at home on October 21.

“I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said. “I couldn’t bear to take care of it at home anymore and watch my children and my husband watch me. So I went to the hospital.”

Pratt was in the hospital for three days. She says she was given nausea medicine and painkillers.

“I didn’t stay still the whole time I was there because the pain made me so uncomfortable,” she said. “It was just a horrible experience.”

How to prevent E. coli infection

Iovine says the best way to prevent E. coli infections is to follow the CDC’s recommendations: wash your hands frequently, follow safe food preparation guidelines, and wash fruits and vegetables before eating them, even if on the packaging states that they have already been washed.

“Never trust that label. Always wash your vegetables,” she said. “It’s the last chance to remove any harmful bacteria that may be present. I’m really aware of things growing in the dirt. I’ll rinse them off and then I remove whatever the outer layer is. If it’s an onion, I remove that outer layer. If they are carrots, I always peel them because you don’t get all the dirt off.”

When Pratt saw the news report about the outbreak, she dropped everything and started cleaning her refrigerator.

“I went ahead and threw all my other food that I actually had with them in the trash,” she said. “I just dumped it. Brand new and all. I just didn’t want to take that risk. I literally bleached and soaked everything they touched.”

The CDC also encourages drinking only water from safe sources. If you are going hiking, camping or traveling, make sure the water is purified before consuming it. Avoid swallowing water while swimming or playing in outdoor water sources such as lakes, ponds or pools.

Recovery and lasting effects

Nearly a month after being hospitalized, Pratt says she still feels “completely sluggish.”

“I haven’t fully gotten my energy back since then,” she said.

But Pratt said one of the worst feelings was losing confidence in the safety of her food.

“You buy the food, you bring it home, you rely on it,” she said. “I’m just glad it was me because I have two kids who love carrots, raw carrots, just like me.”