Costco's chicken salad linked to case of E. coli in Washington, state says

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- "Chicken salad with rotisserie chicken" from Costco has been linked to at least one case of E. coli bacteria infection in Washington, the state Department of Health said Monday.

Consumers who bought this product -- item #37719 -- should discard it, the department said.

Costco has removed the chicken salad from their shelves.

The Washington State Department of Health, together with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other western states, are investing E. coli illnesses from chicken salad purchased from various Costco stores in late October.

Washington has confirmed one case of E. coli from King County; that person became ill in late October but was not sick enough to require hospitalization.

Other states with confirmed E. coli cases linked to Costco chicken salad include Colorado, Montana and Utah.

The department said the federal government is working with Costco to determine the source of the contamination.

People who have eaten this product and feel ill should consult with a health care provider, the department said. People usually get sick two to eight days after getting E. coli. Most people infected develop diarrhea, often bloody, and abdominal cramps. Most people recover within a week, the department said, but some illnesses last longer and can be more severe, resulting in kidney failure.