Health officials study E. coli cases

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 27, 2004

Yesterday the Union Democrat reported that the discovery of five cases of E. coli in children ranging from 8 months to 17 years has kept the Calaveras County Public Health Department very busy this month.

From the article:

For each child infected with the bacteria, communicable disease control nurse Jane Loeffler has conducted contact investigations. She's spoken with the infected children or their parents to determine where they've been, what they've eaten and who they've been around. She's looked into anything that could lead to a source of infection.

"We have a big binder in the health department. It's called 'big blue,'" said Public Health Officer Dr. Dean Kelaita, who has held that position since 2000. "In this, we have protocols on how to approach all of these diseases we might encounter."

The first and most important step is to find out if there's a common link, such as one place to which each infected child went to or a certain food each ate.

"If it's a food-borne outbreak or illness (such as E. coli) ... if there's a source in the community that the person had gotten that from -- that would mean other people are at risk, too," said Kelaita.

So far, no common community source has been discovered and it's unknown if the bacteria found in three young Angels Camp children in early May is related to that discovered in two Murphys teens Monday.

Read the full article.

5 infected with E. coli in Calaveras

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 26, 2004

Francis P. Garland, Lode Bureau Chief, published today that two Calaveras County teenage brothers have been infected with the same virulent strain of the E. coli bacterium that has left a young Angels Camp boy hospitalized with serious kidney problems for the past three weeks. Read the full article.

Bioniche E. coli 0157 Vaccine Shows Further Promise in Controlled Challenge Study

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 13, 2004

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a fully-integrated human and animal health biopharmaceutical company, today announced that a controlled challenge study, performed at the Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan, has again demonstrated the efficacy of the E. coli 0157 cattle vaccine developed by the Company's Food Safety division in partnership with VIDO, the University of British Columbia, and the Alberta
Research Council. Two commercial scale vaccines were evaluated in the study: one using the Bioniche manufactured vaccine and the other using a vaccine produced by the Alberta Research Council - Biologics fermentation facility.

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Child hit by E. coli

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 12, 2004

Yesterday Erin Mayes of the Union Democrat did a story on a 4-year-old Angels Camp boy who is in serious condition at an Oakland hospital after contracting an E. coli infection last week.

From the article:

It's unknown how or where Nicholas Kristoff came into contact with the bacteria -- contracted most often through undercooked meat, especially ground beef, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Nicholas and his sister, Abigail, both were found to have the organism in their bodies, but only Nicholas suffered a violent reaction. Their sister, Elizabeth, did not have E. coli in her system.

A donation fund has been set up at Guaranteed Savings Bank, 479 S. Main St., Angels Camp, for the Kristoff family. For more information call 736-4561.

Buehler Food Markets Food May Be Contaminated With E. coli

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 04, 2004

Buehler Food Markets, Inc. issued a warning that meat products processed in its Wooster plant are possibly contaminated with E.coli.

No illnesses have been associated with the products, but the company is voluntarily recalling the items.

They include:

* Macaroni and beef in sauce, purchased in the deli, with an expiration date of May 19 on the Buehler logo price sticker or from the salad bar from April 20 to April 30.

* Johnny Marzetti, purchased in the deli, with an expiration date of May 18 on the sticker or from the salad bar from April 21 to April 30.

* Buehler's meatloaf, purchased from the deli, salad bar or meat department, from April 20 to May 1.

The recall affects stores in Ashland, Coschocton, Delaware, Dover Parkside, Medina, Forest Meadows, River Styx, New Philadelphia, Orrville, Wadsworth, Wooster, Milltown and Towne Market.

Anyone who has purchased the products with the dates mentioned above should return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Families file four lawsuits after Milwaukee E. coli outbreak

Posted by E. coli Lawyer on May 03, 2004

On April 30 the Associated Press reported on a lawsuit I filed on behalf of four children who got extremely sick from E. coli bacteria at area Sizzler restaurants.

More than 60 people got sick and a 3-year-old South Milwaukee girl died after eating at the restaurants in July 2000. Investigators blamed Sizzler's meat handling procedures for the contamination. The filings represent another chapter in a long legal battle.

Milwaukee County Judge Michael Sullivan ruled in May 2002 that Excel couldn't be sued for supplying the beef to Sizzler restaurants in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. Excel's attorneys had argued the company wasn't liable because it didn't mishandle the meat and complied with U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections before shipping.

From the article:

A state appeals court overturned that ruling a year later, saying even though federal authorities inspected the meat, the processor still had to make sure it was safe. The court reinstated 14 lawsuits against Excel.

Excel appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the court refused to hear the appeal, clearing the way for the lawsuits.

"It is time for the company to take responsibility for its actions and compensate victims of its negligence," said William Marler, managing partner of law firm Marler Clark, which is representing the children.