North Jersey girl sickened in 5-state E. coli outbreak

A 13-year-old Essex County girl who became sick with an E.coli infection is part of a national investigation into a five-state outbreak of the disease, believed to be linked to contaminated soy nut butter.

Twelve people have been infected since Jan. 6 in five states: California, Arizona, Maryland, Oregon and New Jersey, said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All except one are younger than 18. No deaths have been reported, but half of those infected have been hospitalized. Four developed a type of kidney failure.

The January teen became sick in January.

The CDC said that I.M. Healthy brand soy nut butter is "a likely source of this outbreak."

Peanut butter substitute recalled for E. coli outbreak

Child-care centers, schools and other institutions should not serve – and consumers should not eat – I.M. Healthy brand soy nut butter or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with soy nut butter, according to CDC recommendations.

Symptoms of this type of E.coli infection vary, but usually they include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. If you have diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, or is accompanied by a high fever, blood in the stool or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down, call your health providers. Most people get better within a week, but some infections are severe or even life-threatening.

Very young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe illness than others, but even healthy older children and young adults can become seriously ill, the CDC said.