The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has today reported a further 18 more people have been reported as ill in relation to an E. coli outbreak linked to chopped romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona.

The CDC added that since the last update on April 13, the number of ill people in the multistate outbreak has risen to 53, with five more states added to the outbreak - Alaska, Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Montana.

The centers reported 31 people out of 48 with available information (65%) have been hospitalized, including five who developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

"This is a higher hospitalization rate than usual for E. coli O157:H7 infections, which is normally around 30%. Health officials are working to determine why this strain is causing a higher percentage of hospitalizations," the CDC said.

On the day the outbreak was linked to the product, U.S. produce groups expressed their deepest sympathies for the victims and clarified the vast majority of romaine lettuce harvested at the moment comes from California which has not been linked to this case.

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