July 2004

An alarming number of Iowans have suffered from food-borne illnesses this summer. In some cases, the number of cases of illnesses such as E. coli more than doubled from the same period the last few years. In 2004, there have been 47 cases reported of E. coli, compared to an average of 26 cases per year from 2001 to 2003.
E. coli causes bad diarrhea and can occasionally cause kidney failure and other life-threatening complications. Several children have had these serious complications this summer in Iowa.
Another illness showing a spike is salmonella, which was reported 233 times so far this year. From 2001 to 2003, there was an average of 171 cases reported per year.
Health officials say there 271 cases of campylobacter have been reported in 2004, compared to an average of 207 per year over the previous three years.
These diseases are caused when basic food handling rules regarding cleanliness, cooking and food temperatures are not followed. E. coli can occur when meat is not completely cooked, especially ground meat.
“Cook all ground or chopped meat patties and poultry until the center is at 160 degrees. If you do not have a meat thermometer, cook until the center is gray or brown and all juices running from the meat are clear, with no trace of pink or cloudiness,” Iowa state epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said.Continue Reading Food Illnesses Spike In Iowa: Health officials warn about E. coli, Salmonella

The Billings Gazette has reported that cantaloupe appears to be the culprit that caused several children to fall ill at a Billings day-care center.
Medical sleuths at the Yellowstone City-County Health Department deduced that the tainted melon was the likely source of an E. coli O157:H infection that sickened at least six children, ages 18

Following up on a previous article, the Billings Gazette is now reporting that Little Seeds Early Childhood Daycare Center reopened Monday, and that parents are confident that an outbreak of E. coli 0157:H had been contained.
The City-County Health Department identified cantaloupe served at the center on July 6 as the probable culprit in

Susan Olp of The Billings Gazette reported today that at least two children who attend Little Seeds Early Childhood Center in downtown Billings are ill with an E. coli infection that is potentially serious and can be transmitted to others. The outbreak led the day-care center to voluntarily close until the end of the week

The Omaha Channel has announced a golfing even to help raise money for a 2-year-old boy’s medical expenses for E. coli treatment. The announcement is below:
Do you like to golf? You can play next month for a good cause.
Last October, five children in Bennington came in contact with E. coli.
The youngest of

KOMO 4 reported yesterday that two children remain hospitalized while E. coli attacks their kidneys. The third child is recovering at home. Local health experts are working hard right now trying to pinpoint the source of what appears to be three cases of E. coli bacteria poisoning in Pierce County.
Jena Richardson, 15, has been

The Union Democrat reports that the possible link between 12 cases of E. coli found in California, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio is still being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control. Strains found in victims in each of those states are extremely similar and could lead to a source of the disease, health experts say.

Local KING 5 News reported yesterday that public health experts in Pierce County are trying to track down what could have sickened three people with e-coli. Those three, including a young child, are all in local hospitals.
From the article:

“They’re checking with family members trying to find out if the 3 people ate at