Our E. coli lawyers are investigating a recent outbreak that originated at Fralo’s Art of Pizza in Leon Springs, Texas. The E. coli outbreak may be related to a sewage spill that occurred across the street from the restaurant. At least 24 patrons of Fralo’s Art of Pizza are known to have become ill, however, […]
Our E. coli lawyers are investigating a recent outbreak that originated at Fralo’s Art of Pizza in Leon Springs, Texas. The E. coli outbreak may be related to a sewage spill that occurred across the street from the restaurant. At least 24 patrons of Fralo’s Art of Pizza are known to have become ill, however, we suspect that many other cases of E. coli have yet to be reported.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with E. coli or suffered symptoms that could be related to the Fralo’s Art of Pizza outbreak, our E. coli lawyers want to hear from you today. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. We urge you to contact us today to protect your legal rights.
In August 2010, at least half a dozen people became sick with E. coli after eating at Fralo’s Art of Pizza. Test of water from Fralo’s well indicated the presence of E. coli. The restaurant was ordered closed by the local health department, but reopened August 23 after new testing found no E. coli.
It was later discovered that a 400,000-gallon sewage spill at the San Antonio Water System lift system at Boerne Stage Road coincided with the Fralo’s Art of Pizza outbreak. It is uncertain when the spill started. While it was discovered on Wednesday, August 18, it is known that Fralo’s patrons began reporting illnesses earlier in the week. Officials said the size of the spill indicated that it had been going on for several days. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has since taken over the investigation into how sewage found its way into the water well.
Because Fralo’s Art of Pizza relies on a well for its water, it is required to have its water tested once a month. However, the owner of the restaurant told MySanAntonio.com that his last test was in March 2010, after Metro Health told him the tests were no longer needed.
When the sewage spill occurred, the San Antonio Water System notified 30 to 40 business and home owners. Our E. coli lawyers are trying to determine if other people in the area may have become ill as a result of tainted water. Most cases of E. coli go unreported, so it is highly likely that this incident sickened far more people than the 24 Fralo’s patrons we know about.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that every year at least 2000 Americans are hospitalized, and about 60 die as a direct result of E. coli infection and its complications. Most E. coli infections come from eating undercooked ground beef, drinking contaminated water, drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk, and working with cattle.
E. coli symptoms begin about 7 days after exposure. They usually start with sudden, severe abdominal cramps. This is followed in a few hours by watery diarrhea that eventually becomes bloody. Some victims may experience a mild fever, as well as nausea or vomiting.
While healthy adults can recover from E. coli infections in about a week, the disease is extremely dangerous for children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems. In such patients, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. This complication can be fatal.
If you or a loved one ate at Fralo’s Art of Pizza, or live or work in the vicinity of the San Antonio Water System sewage spill, and suffered any symptoms associated with E. coli poisoning, you may have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form, or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) to discuss your case with one of our E. coli lawyers today.