Looks like JBS Swift USA has one customer coming forward on its own.

The Kroger Co. and its Fry’s, Smith’s, and Food 4 Less stores are all asking customers to check their freezers and return any beef with April 27-June 1 sell-by dates.  The Smith's website has a good summary.

Kroger said it was “recalling select store-brand and store-packaged ground beef products because the beef was supplied by JBS Swift Beef Co. and may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.”

Kroger stores in the Greater Cincinnati area, including Dayton, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana; Greater Memphis, Tenn.; Arkansas, Mississippi; Indiana (except southwestern Indiana and Evansville); Illinois; and eastern Missouri sold the bad beef.

Smith’s stores, which are located in western states, are also involved in the recall. As are Food 4 Less stores in Illinois and Indiana and Fry’s Stores in Arizona.

Kroger, with $76 billion in sales last year, is the only retail chain to acknowledge its involvement in the JBS recall of beef linked by the Centers on Disease Control and Inspection (CDC) to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.

The Cincinnati-based Kroger has 2,475 stores in 31 states doing business under a bunch of names.

Still nothing from FSIS to indicate whether JBS sold meat to others besides the Kroger chain.

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At least when Nestles USA announced that it was recalling all its Toll House cookie products, the public knew which retailers were involved. Every retail grocery in the country provides generous space for Nestle products.

Nestle is currently at the center of the largest E. coli recall and largest E. coli outbreak in the country, and one-by-one the victims and their families are filing lawsuits against the cookie giant.

The deadly E. coli O157:H7 with a particular DNA fingerprint has linked 69 people in 29 states with the apparent cookie dough contamination.

Getting far less public attention than the Nestle’s E. coli O157:H7 cookie dough recall are seven beef recalls announced by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  

When a meat processor recalls its beef, the information is not much use to consumers unless they are told which retailers and restaurants are selling the product.   Time and time again, food safety advocates have found “recalled” items still on the shelves long after retailers were told to remove them.

A year ago, FSIS announced it would at least identify which retailers are involved in a recall within a three to ten day period. That new policy appears to be getting hit and miss attention this year by FSIS.

Andrew Shain at The State newspaper in South Carolina unsuccessfully attempted to get a list of retailers in that state who carry meat from JBS Swift Beef Company’s massive Greeley, CO processing plant, which has a recall out on 41,280 pounds of beef.

A JBS official told The State processors and stores did not want their names released and would “contact the public as they see fit.”

The JBS recall due to contamination by E. coli O157:H7 is the seventh to occur since May 4^th.   It was announced on June 24^th, and no list of retailers has yet been made available by FSIS.

It came just two days after Chicago’s International Meat Company on June 22^nd recalled 6,152 pounds of ground beef products believed to be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.   That meat went to other distributors and restaurants in the Chicago area, so FSIS says there will be no list of retailers. (Restaurants must  not be retailers, according to FSIS).

The 75 pounds of fresh beef trim products recalled on June 8^th by Snow Creek Meat Processing in Seneca, SC all went to the Amazing Savings Stores in Asheville and Black Mountain, NC.   The retailers were identified on the same day by FSIS.

It took two days after the June 2^nd recall by Portland, OR-based SP Provisions of almost 40,000 pounds of E. coli-tainted ground products for FSIS to finger Riley’s Market in Bend, OR as the only retailer involved.

On May 21^st, Coal Valley, IL-based Valley Meats LLC recalled 95,898 pounds of ground beef found contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 after an outbreak was discovered by the Ohio Health Department.   Its by far the biggest recall of 2009, but FSIS claims no retailers are involved.   It seems all the meat went to what FSIS said were “various consignees nationwide.”

The May 12^th recall by Bob’s Food City in Hot Springs, AK of 375 pounds of ground beef products thought to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 involved only that retail outlet and FSIS said so on the same day.

May 4^th was the date of the first E. coli recall of both 2009 and the new Obama Administration.    FSIS said none of the 4,663 pounds of ground beef products contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 went to retailers, only western New York restaurants.  Alex & George Wholesale, Inc. of Rochester, NY issued the recall.

Seven beef recalls due to O157:H7 contamination so far in 2009 are for a total of 188,341 pounds.   All seven are “Class 1, High Risk” recalls.   At least one led to the outbreak in Ohio.   And, the E coli beef season is just getting started. 

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It's rare that an "FDA Medwatch" is about food. Usually, such alerts are for medical professionals and address something having to do with drugs or medical devices. The national E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak associated with Nestle's cookie dough, however, is very unusual and this FDA Medwatch has been issued for both consumers and all healthcare professionals:

FDA and the CDC are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes food borne illness). The warning is based on an ongoing epidemiological study conducted by the CDC and several state and local health departments. Since March 2009 there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states. Twenty-five persons were hospitalized; 7 with a severe complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). No one has died.E. coli O157:H7 causes abdominal cramping, vomiting and a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Most healthy adults can recover completely within a week. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk for developing HUS, which can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

FDA advises that if consumers have any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their home that they throw them away. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces. Individuals who have recently eaten prepackaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

Please continue reading for the outbreak map, including a case-breakdown by state, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Persons Infected with the Outbreak Strain of E. coli O157:H7, United States, by State, March 1, 2009 to June 18, 2009

As of Thursday, June 18, 2009, 65 persons infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7 with a particular DNA fingerprint have been reported from 29 states. Of these, 23 have been confirmed by an advanced DNA test as having the outbreak strain; these confirmatory test results are pending on the others. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arkansas (1), Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Delaware (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (5), Missouri (2), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), Nevada (2), Ohio (4), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (2), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (1). 

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USDA announced today that Custom Pack, a Nebraska firm, is recalling ground beef distributed in Nebraska and buffalo distributed in Colorado. The recall was instituted after the CDC and Nebraska health officials identified at least one E. coli illness associated with the products.

The ground beef products were produced between June 1 and June 13, 2007, and were distributed to restaurants and institutions in Nebraska. The ground buffalo patties were produced on June 7, 2007, and distributed to restaurants and institutions in Colorado. None of these products were sold through grocery stores.

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A 22-month-old child has been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome in the Birmingham, Alabama, Children's Hospital.

Her grandfather, Dr Malone Chandler, told The Troy Messenger in regards to Mallory’s condition, “The concern for Mallory is that her kidney function began to decline in the past 24 hours. She is on dialysis, temporarily, and she has had a blood transfusion. She is not in great shape, but the news that we got today is encouraging.”

“At the beach, Mallory played in the pool,” he said. “She had not eaten anything much since last Wednesday or Thursday, so we really don't know of any food that she might have eaten that could have made her sick. We are wondering if it could have been something in the pool water.”

Chandler said in the past week four children have been admitted to Children's Hospital suffering from the same symptoms as Mallory.

Chandler said the source of Mallory's illness is not known and may never be.
 

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Four cases of E. coli infections have been identified by Arizona health officials as possibly linked to beef that a California meatpacking company recalled Monday.

The beef was processed by United Food Group LLC of Vernon, Ca. and shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah. It was sold at Albertsons, Save-A-Lot, Grocery Outlet, Fry's, Save-Mart, Smart and Final, Smith's, and Stater Bros. stores.

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United Food Group, LLC, a Vernon, California, establishment, is voluntarily expanding its recall of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The expanded recall totals approximately 370,000 pounds.

The ground beef products in the expanded recall were produced on April 13, while the products subject to the original recall were produced on April 20. The ground beef products were shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
 

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced that the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 infection traced to ground beef products had significantly declined. CDC attributed the decline to the implementation of a new set of recommendations from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service in 2002 and the beef industry's subsequent enhancement of food safety systems, including testing and control measures.

It is true that since 2002, there has been a general decline in the number of E. coli cases traced to red meat, and an increase in the number of E. coli cases traced to fresh produce, namely bagged lettuce and spinach. But in the last weeks E. coli outbreaks traced to beef products have underscored the importance of continued efforts to protect the public from E. coli in meat.

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The number of confirmed cases linked to an E. coli outbreak in the Fresno area has increased by three to 11, according to an article in the Fresno Bee.

Samples are still being tested and additional positive results may be confirmed in the coming days, said Tim Casagrande, director of Fresno County's environmental health services department.

Health officials are focusing on determining which food item served at three separate parties could have been the source.  Early reports indicated that beef tri-tips from the Meat Market was served at all three events.
 

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Health officials have identified two additional people who tested positive for E. coli and may be part of the recent outbreak traced to private gatherings held in the Fresno area.

Investigators are tracking down everyone who attended three private parties where tainted food might have been served.

Officials need to know what the people ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the past week, said David Luchini, division manager of communicable diseases for the Fresno County Community Health Department. He did not have an estimate on how long the interviews would take.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause a complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.  HUS occurs in 5-10 percent of E. coli patients, and can cause damage to the kidneys, brain, pancreas, and central nervous system.
 

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KFSN-TV reported that health officials are investigating 20 reported E. coli cases - 16 from the same source - in an outbreak that apparently began after two graduation parties on May 19.

Food from the same Fresno market was served at both graduation parties.

A number of food sources are under scrutiny, but the parties were catered by the same company, said Tim Casagrande, the county's director of environmental health.

Health workers are talking to people in attendance at two other parties held on the same day to determine if more people have become ill.
 

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The Fresno County Health Department and Fresno County Environmental Health are looking into whether the Meat Market is the source of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened as many as 20 people so far.

The grill at the popular Meat Market in north Fresno was shut down for about an hour while county health inspectors checked the facility. Tim Casagrande, Fresno County Environmental Health says, "Our staff's gonna be looking at essentially food handling, critical points, temperatures."

 

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An E. coli outbreak may be ongoing in Montgomery and Fulton Counties in New York.

The State Health Department has confirmed that three children have tested positive for E. coli, and one has been hospitalized. Two of the children attend the same daycare, but officials are not releasing the name of that facility yet, according to WTEN TV.

It is not known how the third child became ill, but health officials say they are performing tests on some of the children attending the daycare program.

During summer months, exposure at pools and water parks has been linked to outbreaks of E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and other bacteria, parasites, and viruses.  Recently, several children became ill with E. coli infections after attending a back yard water slide party near Bakersfield, California.  In 2004, thousands of people became ill with Cryptosporidiosis after exposure to Cryptosporidium at the Seneca Lake Spraypark near Geneva, New York, and in 1998 dozens of children became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections, including seven children who were hospitalized and one child who died, after playing in a kiddie pool at the White Water waterpark near Atlanta, Georgia.
 

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Marler Clark client Teresa Kaiser was recently interviewed by CNN regarding her E. coli infection.

Teresa became ill with an E. coli infection and suffered kidney failure after eating E. coli-contaminated lettuce at a Taco John's restaurant in Minnesota last November.  Although her kidney function is up to around 44 percent, Teresa now has high blood pressure.

She is looking for answers as to how the lettuce she consumed at Taco John's became contaminated, and health officials' investigation into the outbreak has been hampered since other recent outbreaks have demanded attention that would normally have been afforded to tracing back the Taco John's E. coli outbreak to its source.
 

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A settlement has been announced involving lawsuits filed against the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Health officials traced the 2005 E. coli outbreak to a petting zoo owned by Plant City-based Ag-Venture Farms, which had brought more than a dozen goats, sheep, cows and chickens to the Florida Strawberry Festival, the Florida State Fair in Tampa and the Central Florida Fair in Orlando.

About 50 people from six counties were sickened at the three events, and 15 filed lawsuits against the petting zoo, according to the Tampa Tribune. Those claims were resolved last year when the 15 victims shared a $1 million settlement from an insurance company representing the petting zoo.

Other suits are pending against the state fair and Central Florida Fair.
 

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Two victims of the 2005 E. coli outbreak traced to a petting zoo at the Florida Strawberry Festival have resolved claims brought against the festival last week.

Both victims, a woman and a young child, suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome and required extensive medical treatment, including dialysis, after contracting E. coli O157:H7 at the 2005 Florida Strawberry Festival.

The 2005 Florida E. coli outbreak was the 16th documented outbreak traced to animal exposure at a fair or petting zoo since 2000, including a widely publicized E. coli outbreak in North Carolina that occurred just months before.
 

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The Kern County Health Department issued a press release today stating that the investigation into an E. coli outbreak among several Bakersfield, California-area resident had been traced.

Early speculation about the source of the outbreak indicated that health officials were investigating potential exposure to the E. coli bacterium at a restaurant; however, the press release shows that health officials have pinpointed the exposure as happening at a water slide event.

One child is still hospitalized in fair condition, according to an article from the Bakersfield Californian.
 

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The Minnesota Department of Health is focusing its investigation into an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak on a Nebraska meat packer, according to a story from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Although the beef was ground by a local grocery store, the source of the E. coli contamination probably came from the meat processing plant in Nebraska.

The store that sold the E. coli-contaminated meat receives meat from an Albert Lea distributor that gets its supply from four different meat processors. The processors operate at least eight different slaughterhouses.

The Albert Lea distributor does not have records on the source of the meat that it shipped to the Longville grocery store.
 

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The Minnesota Department of Health has been investigating an E. coli outbreak that was the source of 17 confirmed illnesses and one death. MDOH suspects that at least 30 people were ill with E. coli infections, but that not all cases were confirmed through laboratory testing.

A report in the Pioneer Press noted that this latest E. coli outbreak caused the first E. coli-related death in Minnesota since 2002.

“We think primarily what happened was there were a number of illnesses associated with eating potato salad or another cold salad that became cross-contaminated with the ground beef that was used to make meatballs,” said Doug Schultz, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health. Those preparing the food probably used the same utensils or cutting board for the potatoes as for the beef.

Health investigators were initially perplexed by the outbreak, Schultz said. People from the church were sick, but so was a group of people who did not attend the event.

The investigators eventually traced the contamination to E. coli that had been discovered during a routine federal inspection of a Nebraska meatpacker. A distributor bought beef from that plant and sold it to a Longville grocer, who in turn sold the beef to a local restaurant as well as the organizers of the church event. The victims who weren't infected at the church all had eaten at the same restaurant.
 

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The Tennessee health department has confirmed that the seven people who fell ill ate at a Hixson restaurant between July 8th and 20th, reports WDEF-TV.

Since then, employees of the restaurant have all tested negative for the bacteria, and health inspectors have made sure that the restaurant was thoroughly sanitized.

Three of Janet King's four children contracted the bacteria. The ordeal has devastated the family financially; Janet's husband Mark, a Hamilton County deputy missed five weeks of work while doctors treated the kids in and out of the hospital.

Friends are hosting a daylong benefit at Veterna's Park in Soddy-Daisy. Proceeds will help the Kings with extraordinary medical bills they now have. King says she's more than grateful for the family, friends, who helped them during their time of need.
 

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A woman from Longville, Minnesota, who apparently ate contaminated food at a church supper, has become the first Minnesotan recorded as dying of E. coli complications in at least three and a half years, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Services will be held today for Carolyn Hawkinson, right, 73, at Salem Lutheran Church in Longville, where the meal was served July 19.

Hawkinson, who died Sunday after nearly a month in hospitals, had helped set up for the church supper the day before it was held, her daughter said.

In the past six weeks, E. coli has sickened at least 17 people and perhaps as many as 30 around Longville, the Minnesota Department of Health reported Tuesday. Nine people were hospitalized, including Hawkinson and one other with serious complications.
 

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E. coli outbreaks have been found twice in Utah in recent weeks; once in North Ogden and once in Hyrum. The Hyrum outbreak infected five people; health officials weren't able to identify the source, reports Heidi Toth of the Utah Daily Herald.

The North Ogden outbreak, resolved earlier this week, originated from contaminated lettuce in a Wendy's restaurant. Three people in that outbreak ended up with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be life-threatening and leave permanent damage.

Fortunately, said Terry Beebe, director for environmental health at the Utah County Health Department, good food handling, lots of hand washing and taking precautions can minimize the risk. Outbreaks can happen, and do; the last one in Utah County was several years ago at the state Developmental Center in American Fork.

About 73,000 Americans get sick and 61 die every year from infections caused by the bacteria, which can be spread in a number of ways, including when infected ground beef is not fully cooked or when it comes into contact with other food, when raw milk is infected by cow manure or equipment, when sewage gets into water supplies or swimming pools or when feces gets on a person's hands who then handles food without washing. There are a number of different strains; the most common of the infecting types is O157:H7.

The health department has a number of procedures in place to avoid outbreaks, including semiannual inspections of every restaurant in the county and more if there's reason to suspect a problem. Utah County implemented a no-bare-hand-contact policy about a year ago among restaurants to minimize the possibility. Health inspectors also check were the food is coming from, that dishes and countertops are being properly washed and food is cooked to the proper temperatures.

People also need to be aware of the E. coli risk in their homes. Beebe advises lots of hand-washing while cooking, knowing where the food came from and keeping kitchen implements clean. He emphasized that since most transmissions of the bacteria were fecal to oral, washing hands, while not perfect, was a good way to minimize risk.
 

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Eight patients, including six children, who were hospitalized after an E. coli outbreak at a day camp have been released.

The kids, along with a youth counselor and an adult from the Palisades Country Day Camp & School, were treated for dehydration, said representatives from Hackensack University Medical Center and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

Most of the patients were 5-year-old girls, but as many as 14 children and staff members may have been infected E. coli O157:H7, according to The Record. State health officials are continuing to investigate the camp to find the source of the infections.

The camp, which shut down Wednesday as a result of the outbreak, will remain closed through next week, said director Patricia Luttrell, speaking through a staff member.

There are about 50,000 to 75,000 cases of E. coli infections in the United States each year, said Dr. Jeffrey Kocher, an infectious disease specialist at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

Anyone can become infected with the highly contagious bacteria, which are often contracted by ingesting undercooked meat, raw milk or contaminated water, but it is particularly dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. About 10 percent of infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a debilitating kidney disease, and about 10 percent of those cases can result in death.
 

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An E. coli outbreak at a day camp caused several children and staff members to be hospitalized and the camp to be shut down temporarily, reports NorthJersey.com.

There were seven confirmed and seven probable cases of E. coli infection originating at the Palisades Country Day Camp & School, said Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for state Department of Health and Senior Services. Most of the patients are 5-year-old girls.

The Palisades Country Camp & School is for children ages 3 to 6. The campus includes a heated swimming pool, a petting zoo and a playground.

A representative from Hackensack University Medical Center said that two children with a confirmed diagnosis and one adult with a pending diagnosis related to the outbreak are being treated at the hospital.

The camp closed voluntarily Wednesday and plans to reopen Monday. State health officials are running tests to find the source of the outbreak.
 

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15 cases of E. coli infection have been reported in the Longville area to the Minnesota Department of Health, according to The Pilot-Independent.

Of those, four people tested positive for the E. coli strain O157:H7. As of Friday, at least two people were hospitalized in what MDH spokesperson Doug Schultz termed as a "relatively serious condition."

MDH has determined that most, but not all of the cases have an association with a July 19 potluck at Salem Lutheran Church in Longville. At least three individuals did not attend the potluck.

"We are still investigating a number of other events and are looking at other possibilities," Schultz stated. "It may be that we won't be able to determine a single source. We just want to make sure there isn't a source out there that would pose an ongoing public health risk."

Pastor John Monson of Salem Lutheran Church said MDH is still conducting interviews to determine common links for the outbreak.

"Our congregation is concerned about the health of our community and is doing whatever possible to assist the MDH in their research," Monson stressed. "Since the MDH inquiry is ongoing, we can only wait for their conclusions and hope that their discoveries may help prevent future outbreaks.

Just to be on the safe side, Salem Lutheran Church decided to cancel its August smorgasbord, had its water supply checked, and its food service area double-checked.
 

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Four people contracted severe E. coli infections after eating lettuce from a Wendy's restaurant in North Ogden, according to the Standard-Examiner.

Two of the four cases were traced to a CORE Academy conference held at Orion Junior High School in Harrisville and catered by Wendy's. A third case was determined to have been a secondary infection from one of the first two patients.

The fourth case was an individual who ate at the Wendy's for three straight days during that same time period. Three of the four infected have developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal kidney disease.

At least 300 more people were potentially exposed to the infection while attending the conference but health officials don't believe any more infections will occur.

The only common food item shared was iceberg lettuce from Wendy's.

"We believe that the source of this food-borne contamination was limited to this one Wendy's restaurant," House said.

"A main head of lettuce could be the culprit of the whole problem," said Glenn Kinney, regional epidemiologist for the Utah Department of Health.
 

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The Weber-Morgan Health Department confirmed Monday four people were infected with E.coli bacteria in June following a conference held at Orion Junior High in Harrisville.

The Deseret Morning News reports that three of those people have developed a more severe case of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Based on its own investigation, the department said the likely source of the contamination was iceberg lettuce prepared at a Wendy's restaurant in North Ogden, which was one of the caterers for the conference.

"What we're trying to determine is what happened," said Denny Lynch, spokesman for Wendy's Restaurants in Denver. "Clearly we are very concerned with this incident."

The conference was attended by more than 300 people, but only a handful reported getting sick. No other cases among those who attended have reported to have E.coli.

Wendy's Restaurants is trying to contact those who were apparently affected by the contaminated lettuce and do what they can for them.
 

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An E. coli outbreak in North Ogden has health department officials pointing fingers at a Wendy's fast-food restaurant.

It happened in June when some three hundred educators were attending a conference at a junior high in Harrisville, where for one day, Wendy's provided the food. The health department investigation concluded that iceberg lettuce from Wendy's was the common denominator in three confirmed cases and a number of other unconfirmed cases.

A Wendy's representative told ABC 4 News, "We are very saddened that apparently people got sick eating the lettuce from one of our restaurants. When situations arise we will always do the right thing for our customers."

Gwen Hadley with the Weber Morgan Health Department told ABC 4 News one of the victims became so ill she couldn't speak. However, officials say the illnesses and infections have run their course and there is no risk of further infection.
 

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According to the Deseret Morning News, the Bear River Health Department cannot say for certain what caused a spate of recent E. coli cases in northern Utah, although it's pretty sure that two of the five cases were not related to the other three.

Everyone has recovered in the town of Hyrum, there have been no new recent cases and the department is now warning residents to take precautions against foodborne and waterborne illness, since both paths have come under suspicion.

A few of the patients had shared events that led to their illness, but not all patients shared similar stories. Health officials found a possible but unprovable connection in the water supply to the subdivision where the patients lived.

However, since the water theory cannot be proven, officials are left with reminding residents to wash vegetables and fruits, cook meats properly and not allow cross-contamination between cooked and uncooked foods and surfaces. They are also pushing good hand-washing hygiene and avoiding direct exposure to backyard secondary water, especially among kids, such as playing in sprinklers or filling wading pools, playing in gutters and more.
 

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The Weber-Morgan Health Department has refused to disclose the name of a Weber County restaurant where three people contracted E. coli infections, according to the Standard-Examiner.

"We have a policy not to disclose that information," said department Director Gary House. "Our policy is to protect businesses. If we felt it was serious enough, then we would do that."

The Standard-Examiner filed a request for the information under the Government Records Access and Management Act. Under the act, department officials have up to 10 days to respond.

Two of the three individuals infected developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, the most severe type of E. coli infection, according to the health department.

All three people contracted E. coli from the same source during June 28-30, a written news release from the health department said.
 

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Good news comes in from Knoxville, where two daughters of a Hamilton County deputy have undergone treatment for E. coli.

WDEF-TV reports that three out of four of Mark King's children came down with the bacteria in mid-July.

Doctors released 8 year old Kelsey from the hospital over the weekend and upgraded the condition of her four-year-old sister Lexie from critical to serious. One-year old Harley is already home.

The Health Department still has not determined where the family contracted the E. coli.
 

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An unusually high number of E.coli cases have been reported in the Edmonton region in recent weeks, says the Mayerthorpe Freelancer. During the warmer summer months, the risk of food borne illness often increases as more people prepare food outdoors whether barbecuing, camping or picnicking.

Seven cases of E. coil have been reported in the Edmonton region in the last three weeks. The infections are most often the result of eating food which has been contaminated by the E. coil bacteria. Ground beef is of special concern since it is sometimes contaiminated with E. coli.

These safe food handling tips can help prevent E. coli infection:
 

• Do not prepare food for others if you are ill with diarrhea.
• Always wash your hands before handling food and after handling raw meat.
• Before and after preparing ground meat, wash the work surface and everything you used in preparing the meat with hot soapy water. (This prevents E. coli bacteria from being transferred to other foods you may prepare on the same work surface.)
• Keep hot foods hot (above 60C/140F ) and keep cold foods cold (below 4C/40F).
• Most importantly, thoroughly cook all ground beef to kill disease causing bacteria. Cooking ground beef to a temperature of 71C/160F at the centre of the hamburger patty will destroy E. coli bacteria. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat has reached a high enough temperature. The colour of the meat and juices are not a reliable way of ensuring ground beef is thoroughly cooked.
   

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Three children from one family became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in early July. One child remains in a Knoxville hospital, hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, but the other two are recovering, reports Newschannel 9.

But over the last ten days, 18-month-old Harley King has been to Children's Hospital twice fighting off the symptoms of E-Coli.

His eight year old sister Kelsey is expected to be released from a Knoxville hospital this afternoon.

The news is not as good for four year old sister Alexis. She remains in the Knoxville hospital with attention focused on her kidneys.
 

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Health officials are urging South Dakotans to practice food safety precautions and good hygiene to protect themselves from the threat of E. coli, according to the Marshall County Journal.

60 percent of South Dakota cases in 2006 have been children younger than 20 years old, and 25 percent of cases are children three years old and younger. Three of the E. coli cases have resulted in hemolytic uremic syndrome, all in children 13 years and younger. There have been no deaths.

Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist for the Department of Health, offered the following suggestions to prevent the spread of E. coli and other food-home illnesses:

• Avoid eating raw, rare, or undercooked ground beef or hamburger. The bacteria in meat are killed by heat when thoroughly cooked. Cook ground beef or hamburger until the pink is gone, the juices run clear, and it is hot on the inside (at least 160 degrees F).
• Clean all food preparation surfaces that will come in contact with food.
• Wash hands, utensils, plates, platters, and countertops after contact with raw meat or poultry and before contact with the same food when cooked.
• Avoid drinking from untreated water supplies. Chlorine or other effective disinfectants will kill the bacteria.
• Drink only pasteurized milk and fruit juices.
• Wash hands after working with cattle or manure.
• Careful hand-washing with soap will reduce the risk of spreading the bacteria by food handlers, in daycare settings, and by health care workers.

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Another E. coli outbreak has hit Middle Tennessee, sending more kids to the hospital, according to WTVF-TV Nashville.

Doctors were treating six new children Tuesday night, and there is concern more kids will get sick from the bacterial infection. Two of the patients are suffering from kidney failure. The rest are still recovering.

Unlike the E. coli outbreak in Macon County weeks ago, these six kids were not infected with E. coli from one spot, but rather were from all over central Tennessee. Doctors worry there could be even more cases to come, because E. coli is spread so easily between humans.

E. coli infection can come from under-cooked beef but also from swimming in streams, lakes, and drinking well water that cows may have contaminated. With the new cases, state health investigators began looking into those possibilities.
 

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The source of E. coli cases in Hyrum remains unknown more than a month after the bacteria was discovered, reports the Associated Press.

"Our investigation is still under way," Bear River Health Department spokesman Mike Weibel said. "We have not ruled anything out, and Health Department tests of Hyrum's water show that it is safe to drink."

Residents have speculated that the bacteria could have originated in the culinary water, since a new water line was recently installed in the High Valley subdivision, but city officials maintain that proper precautions were taken.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is assisting the local health department in the investigation.
 

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State public health officials say there's a "small cluster" of E. coli cases in the Newton area, according to KGRN Radio of Iowa. Five cases have been reported in Jasper County. All are children.

"They've done an investigation through the Iowa Department of Public Health and haven't pinpointed an exact source," Easley says. "There's nothing that they've learned that these children shared in common experience, but they're still looking."

According to the state Department of Public Health, there have been 33 E. coli cases reported in Iowa since May 1st.

Diane Larson, director of Jasper County's Public Health Nursing Service, says the major symptom of E. coli is diarrhea. Some who fall ill suffer stomach cramps and chills. Common causes are food that's not completely cooked or eaten raw, and young children can also contract the disease from animals at petting zoos if they do not wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.
 

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An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been traced to a Sidney, Nebraska, day care center. The Associated Press reported that at least four children between the ages of nine and 18 months who were being cared for in the Blues Clues Room at Here Wee Grow day care center in Sidney have become ill with E. coli infections. Three children were hospitalized; two remain in the hospital, one has been released.

www.about-ecoli.com provides information related to the symptoms and risks associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection, how E. coli is detected, possible ways to prevent infection, and recent news associated with outbreaks. Nearly ten percent of children who become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that can cause kidney failure as well as damage to the pancreas, liver, brain, and heart. In fact, HUS is now recognized as the most common cause of childhood kidney failure. Children with HUS can develop medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and often require medical monitoring and treatment throughout the rest of their lives.

"Most people have heard of E. coli, but until someone they know falls victim during an outbreak, they don't realize how devastating E. coli infection and HUS can be," said William Marler, a Seattle attorney who has represented hundreds of victims of E. coli outbreaks. "That's where the information on these sites comes in."

The Panhandle Public Health Department, Nebraska Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to investigate the source of the outbreak. "At this point, it's not clear how the bacterium was spread at the day care; however, any day care operator should have measures in place to prevent the spread of diarrheal illness at their facility," Marler continued. "A recent outbreak at a day care center in Tennessee was traced to a child who was allowed to remain in attendance at the day care even though they had diarrhea for four days."

Marler and the attorneys at Marler Clark have represented dozens of children who have become sick with E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic bacteria while attending day care. The firm recently settled the case of a Missouri child who suffered an E. coli infection and HUS after being exposed to the E. coli bacterium at a day care center in Joplin, Missouri. The firm has also represented children in Texas and California who became ill with E. coli and HUS after exposures at day care centers. For more information, contact Suzanne Schreck at (206) 346-1879 or sschreck@marlerclark.com.

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State investigators remain unsure about the exact source of the infection that sickened at least four children at the Here Wee Grow day-care center in Sidney, Nebraska.

Health officials are assuming that the infection was most likely caused by E. coli.

The classroom and the center's food and water supplies have been tested, but a direct tie of E. coli to the center has not been confirmed. The center was still open Wednesday but one of its rooms remained closed for cleaning and sterilization.

At this time, health officials believe the source of the bacteria was outside the facility. The day-care staff and its board of directors are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Panhandle Public Health Department and the state epidemiologist to ensure the bacteria is contained and that the risk of further infection is eliminated.
 

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Health investigators are trying to find out how three toddlers who attend the same day-care center in the Nebraska Panhandle contracted the E. coli virus, according to KETV7 in Omaha.

The three children range in age from 9 to 18 months and were being cared for in the Blues Clues Room at the Here Wee Grow center in Sidney. Two of the children remain hospitalized. The third child has left a hospital and is being cared for at home.

State investigators remain unsure of the source of the E. coli, which is normally a food-borne illness.

The classroom and the center's food and water supplies have been tested. A direct tie of E. coli to the center has not yetbeen confirmed.
 

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The health department held a news conference discussing the three confirmed cases of E. coli in Hyrum's High Valley subdivision in Utah. But officials declined to speculate on the source of the intestinal illness, according to the Deseret Morning News.

Health department teams from the Bear River Health Department have made direct contact with many of the people in the subdivision -- a small area that includes about 40 houses on two streets and a cul-de-sac -- in an attempt to discover how each person became infected.

Some subdivision residents worry the contamination stems from work being done on city water lines.
 

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Over the past two and a half weeks, all eight members of the Sanders family in Hyrum have, according to The Herald Journal, been sick. The youngest child, just 16 months old, has tested positive for E. coli.

The case is one of three positive tests for the bacteria in Cache County during the last month, all of which have occurred in Hyrum's High Valley subdivision.

E.coli can be spread through a variety of ways and involves the transmission of fecal material in water or food, such as uncooked hamburger meat. The bacteria can develop into Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome and can prove fatal in the most serious cases.

Although officials have not determined if the illnesses are related, some residents are claiming the city's water source could be the culprit. The city recently put in a new water line underneath 300 North to better serve the residents of the subdivision. Officials are now monitoring Hyrum's drinking water.

During the past month, the Health Department has conducted at least five tests of water samples in the area, but have not found any bacteria in the water.
 

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Six confirmed cases of a serious E. coli infection and four additional "suspected" cases are being looked into by the state Department of Health, according to the Macon County Times.

Most of the six children with confirmed cases have been released from Sumner Regional Medical Center or treated by their family doctor and sent home with their parents. Two children, a girl age three-years and a sixteen month old boy, remain in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

It seems as though the outbreak was started with one infected child spreading the bacteria to other children at the center.

The day care center voluntarily closed for the time being as a safety procedure and to make sure everything was thoroughly cleaned and sanitary before children return to avoid the possibility of further infection.

State officials are actively investigating the source of the infection, but the daycare has received good health and safety inspections in the past and has a history of adhering to high standards for the day care industry. The day care facility in Lafayette has been in continuous operation for nearly twenty years.
 

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The Health District hopes to soon know more about how a young Yakima county child got sick from E. coli, according to KAPP TV.

There have been two reported cases in recent weeks; both involve children under the age of 5. Both are in stable condition. Experts say at least one came in contact with farm animals but are still not sure what caused the other.

Health officials say E. coli typically causes diarrhea and upset stomach. It usually passes within a couple of days. Other cases can be more severe, especially in young children or seniors, who tend to have weaker immune systems, where it can develop into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal kidney complication.

The key is to catch it early. Prevention can be as simple as washing your hands regularly to help reduce the risk of exposure.
 

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Newschannel5.com reports that two more children from a day care had to be admitted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital because of complications from E. coli.

There were currently four children in the hospital. Ten kids altogether from Macon County have come down with E. coli. The day care center has been shut down and is complying with health officials in cleaning and sanitizing the facility.

The patients include 15-month-old Colin Hoff, as well as his older brother and eight other children from the Macon County day care he attends.
 

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A representative for the Tennessee Department of Health has reported that an outbreak of E. coli at a local day care was probably started with one infected child who then transmitted the bacteria to other children.

The infected child probably attended the day care facility for three to four days while he was experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection. Nine children have become ill as a result, with two children developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal disease that causes kidneys to shut down.

"Any day care operator should have measures in place to prevent the spread of diarrheal illness at their facility, even if it means sending a kid home until they're feeling better and able to pass solid stool," said William Marler, an attorney who has represented hundreds of victims of E. coli outbreaks. "I understand that having an outbreak is a day care operator's worst nightmare, but this nightmare was largely preventable."

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness that results in painful abdominal cramping, nausea, and bloody diarrhea. Five to ten percent of children who become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that can cause kidney failure as well as damage to the pancreas, liver, brain, and heart. Children with HUS can develop medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and often require medical monitoring and treatment throughout the rest of their lives.
 

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Six confirmed cases of a serious E. coli infection and four additional "suspected" cases are being looked into by the state Department of Health, according to the Macon County Times. All of the infected children, ages 5 and under, attended the same Key Road day care facility operated by Paulette Colter, west of Lafayette.

"Most of the six children with confirmed cases have been released from Sumner Regional Medical Center or treated by their family doctor and sent home with their parents," said Debbie Hoy of the state Department of Health. Two children, a girl age three-years and a sixteen month old boy, remain in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

An additional four young children have shown symptoms but have not become dangerously ill from the E. coli strain of infection, which can lead to serious complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, which causes damage to the kidneys.
 

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There has been an E. coli bacteria outbreak at a day care center in Macon County, where two toddlers have been admitted to an area hospital as a result. Eight other children are recovering.

The Health Department has begun investigating the outbreak, according to Nashville’s News Channel 5.

Investigators have said that they believe one child somehow contracted E. coli, then went to the day care center in Lafayette. Nine other kids got sick days later from secondary infections from the one sick child.

Two of those kids are in the hospital after their kidneys shut down, as a result of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
 

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