McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli, a bacteria that can make people sick.

The outbreak has killed one person in Colorado, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has also affected nearly 50 other people in 10 states.

The illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used on Quarter Pounders or the patty itself, but the investigation into the specific contaminated food ingredient is ongoing, the CDC shared in a post Tuesday.

McDonald’s said it has removed Quarter Pounders from a total of 12 states, but that all other menu items are unaffected.

The CDC added the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, either.

“The true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli,” the agency wrote.

Symptoms and early signs of E. coli

E. coli symptoms usually start about two to seven days after exposure, CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said on the “CBS Evening News” Tuesday.

Symptoms can include:

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Abdominal cramping
• Vomiting
• Feeling dehydrated or dizzy

If you ate a Quarter Pounder and have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider, the CDC advises. 

“Especially if you have fever over 102, you can’t keep liquids down or your symptoms are lasting more than three days,” LaPook said. 

How E. coli is transmitted

People can get infected with E. coli by ingesting it.

“This can happen through contaminated food or water or contact with animals, environments, or other people,” the CDC’s website notes.

The best way to prevent infection is by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely and drinking safe water, the agency adds.

How severe can E. coli get

“Most E. coli are harmless and are part of a healthy intestinal tract. E. coli help us digest food, produce vitamins, and protect us from harmful germs. But some E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses,” the CDC says. 

For example, certain E. coli infections can lead to a serious health condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which can cause kidney failure, permanent health problems and death, according to the CDC.

Certain people are also at increased risk for E. coli infection, including: 

• Children under 5
• Adults 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems
• International travelers

A former police officer in South Carolina has pleaded guilty to killing his neighbor after investigators found a trove of physical evidence tying him to the crime, including bloodstained clothing and a funeral pamphlet in his home with “RIP Oscar” and “you should love your neighbor” written on it, authorities said.

Justin Rawlins Moody, 43, was sentenced to 34 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to murder shortly before his trial was set to begin in Greenwood County, Solicitor David Stumbo said in a statement.

The girlfriend of 48-year-old Oscar Rubio found him dead in his Ware Shoals home in May 2023, shot in the head and in the chest, deputies said.

Neighbors told officers who responded to the shooting that Rubio and Moody had recently been arguing and said Moody borrowed money from his neighbor in the past. Moody refused to come out of his home for deputies until one he knew arrived.

When Moody spoke to investigators he said he didn’t kill Rubio, but knew an extraordinary amount of information about what happened, Stumbo said.

Officers then asked him how he knew so much and Moody “claimed to be God and could hear the thoughts of other people,” Stumbo said.

Deputies found the gun used to kill Rubio in Moody’s bedroom, blood spattered on pants hanging on a kitchen chair, boots in Moody’s home that matched a distinct footprint in blood at the victim’s house, thousand of dollars in cash belonging to Rubio and keys to his vehicle — as well as the funeral pamphlet with “RIP Oscar” and “you should love your neighbor” written on it, prosecutors said.

Under South Carolina law, a murder sentence must be within the range of 30 years to life in prison and served day-for-day, meaning Moody will not be eligible for parole, officials said.  

“This is an absolutely senseless act of violence,” Stumbo said in a statement. “I cannot say enough about the excellent work done by the law enforcement investigators and our prosecutors to put Justin Moody behind bars for essentially the rest of his life.”

Moody worked as a law enforcement officer for at least six different South Carolina agencies starting in 2006, according to records from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

He worked for four years in Laurens County, a year in Greenville County and nearly three years in Richland County during two stints before appearing to leave law enforcement for good in October 2018, according to his records.

None of the agencies reported that Moody was fired or said he shouldn’t be hired anywhere else, the records show, although one agency was upset that he left after less than five months and took a job with another agency.

If you’ve slowly but surely built up your credit card debt this year you can take comfort knowing you’re not alone. The average American has around $8,000 in credit card debt currently, contributing to a record cumulative total of $1.14 trillion right now. That’s a lot of money to owe, particularly considering that the average credit card interest rate right now is around 23%, a record high.

Fortunately, there are multiple debt relief strategies available for borrowers. Credit card debt forgiveness, in which a portion of your existing balance is wiped out, could be attractive for those who owe a five or six-figure sum. But what about those borrowers who less but are still burdened with their existing debt? Will credit card debt forgiveness, for example, cover a $3,000 debt? That’s what we’ll break down below.

Start tackling your high-rate credit card debt now.

Will credit card debt forgiveness cover my $3,000 debt?

In short, no, credit card debt forgiveness won’t cover your $3,000 debt. Not even a portion of it will qualify. That’s because most credit card debt forgiveness servicers require a minimum amount of debt to qualify and that figure is usually $7,500 – more than double a $3,000 sum. 

You’ll also need to demonstrate a financial hardship, like a job loss or medical issue, that’s preventing you from repaying what you owe and it often helps if you’re behind on payments as maintaining a monthly payment schedule typically indicates an ability to pay, even if it’s slower than preferred. But those additional caveats won’t even matter if your existing balance doesn’t mean the minimum balance threshold. 

Explore your best debt relief options here.

Debt relief alternatives

Whether you have a $3,000 debt or more, there are some alternatives to a forgiveness program worth exploring. Specifically, consider:

• Contacting your credit card company directly: Your credit card company won’t know you have a problem paying your debt until you contact them. So give them a call to see if there’s a potential workable solution. This may also require proof of financial hardship but most servicers are willing to negotiate at least some figure versus losing out on being paid back at all. So call them to see what’s possible.
• A debt consolidation loan: A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan that can help consolidate your existing credit card debt, often at a much lower interest rate than you’d otherwise continue to pay via a credit card. With credit card interest rates around 23% now and personal loans averaging just 13%, approximately, there’s a lot of potential savings to explore here.
• A debt management program: A debt management program can help you regain your financial freedom while also helping you avoid getting stuck in similar situations in the future. This program will allow you to pay multiple debts with a single monthly payment coordinated by a third party (the debt relief company). 

Not sure which debt relief option is best for you? Find out here now.

The bottom line

If you only have $3,000 in credit card debt you won’t qualify for a forgiveness program. But that doesn’t mean that you’re out of options either. Consider contacting your credit card company directly before exploring your debt consolidation loan and debt management program alternatives. Collectively or just individually, these can provide a clear path toward financial freedom, even if it requires a bit more effort than a forgiveness program otherwise would.