More illnesses reported in E. coli outbreak tied to onions on McDonald's Quarter Pounders

More cases of illness have been reported in the E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

The total number of sick has risen from the 90 reported in the last update on Oct. 30 to now totaling 104 people infected with the outbreak strain across 14 states. Of those who have fallen ill, 34 have been hospitalized, four developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (a condition that can cause kidney failure), and one person died in Colorado.

The outbreak, first reported on Oct. 22, has been attributed to raw slivered onions served on Quarter Pounder burgers. McDonald's previously told USA TODAY that supplier Taylor Farms had supplied onions to McDonald's in the areas impacted by E. coli illnesses, and US Foods, to whom Taylor Farms is a third-party supplier, issued a recall on raw diced, peeled, and whole peeled onions produced by the company on Oct. 22. However, the recalled Taylor Farms Colorado onions were not related to the company's removal of Quarter Pounders, the company said.

McDonald's issued a fresh notice on its website after the update was released Wednesday, saying it had "identified an alternate supplier for the approximately 900 restaurants that had temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounder burgers with slivered onions."

McDonald’s outbreak news: What to know about E. coli cases, onions, recalls, more

These restaurants resumed the sale of Quarter Pounders with onions over the past week, the company said. The statement also echoed the FDA's assertion that there "does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants.”

"Food safety is something we will never compromise on, and we remain committed to doing the right thing," said McDonald's press statement. "Thank you to all the public health authorities for their partnership and collaboration, which allowed McDonald’s to take swift and decisive action to protect our customers and public health."

What states are impacted by the E. coli outbreak?

As of Nov. 13, 14 states reported illnesses linked to the E. coli outbreak, according to the CDC.

• Colorado (30)

• Iowa (1)

• Kansas (3)

• Michigan (2)

• Missouri (8)

• Montana (19)

• Nebraska (13)

• New Mexico (10)

• North Carolina (1)

• Oregon (1)

• Utah (8)

• Washington (1)

• Wisconsin (1)

• Wyoming (6)

E. coli poisoning symptoms

Most Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria reside harmlessly in the intestines of people and animals. But some can cause mild to life-threatening gastrointestinal illnesses if consumed, the CDC says.

According to the USDA, symptoms of E. coli poisoning appear two to eight days after exposure and usually last about a week. These can include:

• Dehydration

• Bloody diarrhea

• Abdominal cramps

• Fever

In rare cases, some people, especially older adults and children under 5, may develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. These people should seek emergency medical care immediately.

The agency recommended seeking immediate medical attention if a McDonald's customer experiences:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F

  • Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving

  • Bloody diarrhea

• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down

• Signs of dehydration, such as:

  • Not urinating much

  • Dry mouth and throat

  • Feeling dizzy when standing up

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McDonald's E. coli update: Illnesses rise, bringing total to 104