Tainted lettuce outbreak spreads

US health officials say the E. coli outbreak linked to tainted romaine lettuce has grown and sickened 84 people from 19 states.

The US Centers for Disease Control said yesterday at least another 31 cases were believed to be tied to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona. The agency says those infected range in age from one to 88. More than half are female.

Forty-two people have been hospitalised, including nine battling kidney failure.