(Nicole Ireland/ CBC News) — An outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce “appears to be over,” the Public Health Agency of Canada says.
“The risk to Canadians has returned to low and the Public Health Agency of Canada is no longer advising individuals in affected provinces to consider consuming other types of lettuce, instead of romaine lettuce,” it said in an update published on its website Wednesday evening.
The outbreak of E. coli O157 was declared in December after several reports of illness in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec. Cases were later confirmed in Ontario as well. Investigators identified romaine lettuce as the source of the E. coli infections, but still have not determined the cause of the contamination. The investigation continues.
The public health agency considers the outbreak to be over, it said, because there have been no reports of illnesses starting after Dec. 12. (…)