Texas health officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has already resulted in one death, apparently caused by a Shiga toxin carried by bacteria.

E. coli O157:H7 and other bacteria contain Shiga toxins, and can cause severe illness, including hemolytic uremic syndrome. The chain of events leading to HUS begins with ingestion of Shiga toxin producing E. coli or another Shiga toxin producing bacteria in contaminated food, beverages or through person to person transmission.