Four New Deaths Reported From E. Coli Lettuce Outbreak The Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed four more e. coli-related deaths on Friday in an updated report on the lettuce outbreak. Two people from Minnesota, one from Arkansas and one from New York are added to the five-person death toll from the contaminated produce. The first death was reported in California in early May. A total of 197 people fell ill across 35 states, with 26 of them developing a kidney disorder called hemolytic uremic syndrome. The CDC stressed that the recent cases involve people who fell ill 2 to 3 weeks ago from contaminated lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona area. The outbreak has since been contained, and contaminated produce is no longer available in grocery stores or restaurants.