E. coli Outbreak : E. coli Blog

Ground beef, buffalo recalled for E. coli contamination

Posted on July 25, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

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.

Buffalo E. coli

Tags: E. coli Recalls, E. coli Outbreak, buffalo

Child hospitalized with HUS in Birmingham

Posted on June 27, 2007 by E. coli Lawyer

The Troy Messenger reported that a 22-month-old child has been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome in the Birmingham, Alabama, Children's Hospital. Her grandfather, Dr. Malone Chandler, was interviewed for the story, and discussed her illness and possible exposures she could have had to E. coli, the most common cause of HUS.

“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.”

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

“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.

Past outbreaks have been traced to contaminated water sources, such as pools, water parks, and spray parks. In the summer of 1998, 26 children became ill from E. coli O157:H7 contracted while playing in the kiddie pool at White Water Park, a commercial water park in suburban Atlanta. Seven of those children were hospitalized and a 2-year-old boy died after suffering HUS.

Operators of the pool initially denied responsibility for the E. coli outbreak, but investigators determined that the chlorine level in the pool was well below the local health standard on the days when the water was contaminated, greatly increasing the risk of infection.

Marler Clark represented most of the victims and their families, eventually obtaining millions of dollars in settlements. The incident also increased national awareness of the hazards of water contamination, prompting the industry to pay closer attention to pool cleaning and chlorine.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreak, HUS, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

E. coli Outbreak: Ground Beef Recall Expanded

Posted on June 6, 2007 by E. coli Lawyer

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced an expansion of the earlier ground beef recall by United Fresh today. The FSIS press release regarding the expanded E. coli recall stated in part:

United Food Group, LLC, a Vernon, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily expanding its June 3 recall of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

A link between illnesses in several states and the ground beef subject to recall was determined through an investigation carried out by the California Department of Health Services and the Colorado Department of Health, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Recalls, E. coli Outbreak, E. coli ground beef

California Senate advances reforms to ensure produce safety

Posted on June 6, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

For Immediate Release June 6, 2007
Jennifer Hanson 916-651-4016

In wake of outbreaks, legislature approves bills to restore consumer confidence in leafy greens

SACRAMENTO – Today the California State Senate, responding to several deadly E. coli outbreaks which originated in the state, became the first legislative body in the nation to recognize the unique risk posed by leafy greens and enact food safety reforms to address that risk. Senator Dean Florez, who authored Senate Bills 200, 201 and 202, hopes the reforms will go a long way toward restoring consumer confidence in California-grown leafy greens.

“The action taken today by the Senate demonstrates our resolve in making public safety a top priority, and hopefully brings America back to enjoying California leafy greens with confidence,” Florez said, adding, “Our produce is second to none, and now we can put a regulatory process in place that reflects and bolsters that fact.”

In late 2006, two E. coli outbreaks which killed at least three and sickened hundreds more were traced to lettuce and spinach grown in California’s Central Valley. Florez, D-Shafter, who chairs the committee charged with emergency preparedness for the state, immediately convened hearings on how to address food supply vulnerabilities brought to light by the outbreaks.

Senate Bill 200 gives the Department of Health Services the much-needed authority to recall or destroy produce which may pose a threat to the public. The measure also creates an inspection program to proactively address the threat of outbreaks. DHS inspectors would have the authority to conduct periodic on-farm inspections, including testing of water, soil and produce. The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 23-14.

While DHS enforces Good Manufacturing Practices for processors of leafy greens, no such food safety standards have been established for leafy green growers. Senate Bill 201 mandates Good Agricultural Practices for leafy green growers, covering everything from water and fertilizer use, to worker hygiene, to the creation of buffer zones between fields and potential contamination sources. Growers would be required to maintain extensive documentation of these practices. These documents would be reviewed by DHS to ensure compliance. The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 21-17.

The third measure approved today, SB 202, calls for the creation of a traceback system that can quickly trace contaminated produce through the various stages of the distribution process, from farm to processor, to distributor, to retailer. In the most recent E. coli outbreaks, lettuce and spinach producers nationwide took a major economic hit, because it could not immediately be determined where the infected produce came from and every farm was suspect. The ability to quickly find the specific source in an outbreak, combined with DHS’ ability to destroy suspect produce, will prevent a similar industry-wide hit in future E. coli outbreaks. The measure passed by a vote of 23-14.

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Tags: E. coli Watch, California Senate, E. coli Outbreak, Spinach E. coli

E. coli Attorney: Recent outbreaks traced to meat products

Posted on June 5, 2007 by E. coli Lawyer

In April of 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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 United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in 2002 and the beef industry’s subsequent enhancement of food safety systems, including testing and control measures. In a press release issued on April 14, 2005, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns stated:

“The continued reduction in illnesses from E. coli O157 is a tremendous success story and we are committed to continuing this positive trend in the future. These results demonstrate that through innovative policies and strong and consistent enforcement of inspection laws, we are protecting the public's health through a safer food supply.”[1]

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.

Red Meat E. coli

On June 4, FSIS warned consumers to discard ground beef products produced by United Food Group, LLC, of Vernon, California, after its products were traced as the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. United Food Group issued a recall of approximately 75,000 pounds of potentially contaminated ground beef, which was confirmed as the source of at least twelve E. coli O157:H7 illnesses among residents of several Western states and British Columbia. Most of the products were sold under the Moran's label at Albertsons stores in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and Save-A-Lot stores in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

On May 29, the Fresno County Department of Community Health issued a press release stating that it was investigating an E. coli outbreak among Fresno County residents. As of May 31, eleven people had been confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections as part of the outbreak, and the Health Department had inspected the “Meat Market” in Northwest Fresno, a potential source of the outbreak. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

On May 11, FSIS announced that Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was recalling approximately 129,000 pounds of beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recall was issued in response to a Michigan Department of Community Health investigation into the E. coli illnesses of two Michigan residents. The potentially contaminated beef products were distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

On May 10, FSIS issued a recall notice to consumers who may have purchased ground beef products made with beef trim products produced by PM Beef Holdings, LLC, of Windom, Minnesota. PM Beef Holdings recalled approximately 117,500 pounds of beef trim products, which were sold to distributors and retail outlets in Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The beef trim products were subsequently ground and sold under different retail names. Minnesota and Wisconsin health officials traced at least seven E. coli illnesses to consumption of the ground beef products, which were purchased at Lunds or Byerly’s stores in the two states.

On April 20, FSIS announced the recall of 107,900 pounds of frozen ground beef products produced by Richwood Meat Co., of Merced, California, stating that the California Department of Health Services had discovered E. coli contamination during an investigation. The ground beef products were distributed to stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Also on April 20, FSIS and the Pennsylvania Department of Health warned consumers that steak products produced by HFX, Inc. of South Claysburg, Pennsylvania, and sold at Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain, were potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The announcement came after an investigation linked several E. coli illnesses to consumption of the steaks at Hoss’s. HFX recalled approximately 4,900 pounds of meat products.

Marler Clark has been retained by victims of many pf the above-listed E. coli outbreaks, and has been contacted by several more who are seeking legal representation. Bill Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark, commented on the recent outbreaks: “This up-tick in E. coli cases traced to meat products is certainly cause for concern. I hope we’re not seeing a reversal in all the progress that has been made in recent years to curb E. coli contamination in meat processing plants.”

BACKGROUND: Marler Clark has extensive experience representing victims of E. coli bacterial infections. The firm has represented over 1,000 E. coli victims since 1993, when William Marler represented HUS survivor Brianne Kiner in her $15.6 million E. coli settlement with Jack in the Box. In 1998, Marler Clark resolved Odwalla Juice E. coli outbreak cases for five families whose children developed HUS and were severely injured after consuming contaminated Odwalla juice for a reported $12 million. Since that time, Marler Clark has represented victims of E. coli outbreaks traced to ConAgra, AFG, Cub Foods, Supervalu, Carneco, Excel, Topps, Stop & Shop and other ground beef suppliers. For a list of E. coli cases, visit www.marlerclark.com/news-ecoli.htm.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Foodborne Illnesses Continue Downward Trend: 2010 Health Goals for E. Coli 0157 Reached.” Press Release. April 14, 2005, Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r050414.htm

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Recalls, E. coli Legal Cases, E. coli Outbreak, red meat

Fresno E. coli outbreak update #2

Posted on May 31, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

The Fresno Bee reported today that 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. According to the Bee:

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.

"You can imagine it takes time to do a thorough job," Luchini said Wednesday.

KSEE TV also continued its coverage of the recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Fresno County with a report on the condition of Clovis West students who were hospitalized with E. coli infections:

Saint Agnes Hospital confirms a Clovis West senior was released from the hospital [May 30th].

Students say a sophomore also has been released, but a senior football player remains hospitalized.

Health officials say five people went to the emergency room May 21st with the strongest strain of E.coli, after all five attended the same private party May 19th.

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.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Fresno E. coli

Fresno E. coli outbreak update

Posted on May 30, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

Fresno County health officials continue to investigate an E. coli outbreak that has sickened as many as 20 people so far. According to a report from KFSN-TV in Fresno, 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.

The Fresno County Health Department says 20 cases have been reported. Dr. Ed Moreno, Fresno County Public Health Director, says, "There are actually several cases that are under investigation by public health staff. In particular, we have three private events that have come to our attention." Each occurred May 19th. "Among these three events, there was one common supplier of food, " says Dr. Moreno. He continues, "There was also a wedding and another graduation party and everybody narrowed it down to the meat. . .everybody was picking up their meat at the same time, at the Meat Market."

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."

Laboratory results from samples submitted by five outbreak victims have already come back positive for E. coli, and additional tests on other outbreak victims are pending. In a story for the Fresno Bee, Barbara Anderson wrote:

A Saint Agnes Medical Center spokeswoman said doctors saw six patients with E. coli symptoms between Thursday and Sunday. Two of the six were admitted and one remained in the hospital Tuesday, she said.

Moreno said people began showing up at emergency departments on May 21 with cramping pain and bloody diarrhea. Hospital laboratories reported results of E. coli tests to the county Friday and Saturday.

Symptoms of E. coli typically surface in two to three days from exposure, but can take up to eight days to appear.

Hospital tests showed the patients -- from toddlers to older adults -- had a strain of E. coli O157, Moreno said. County health officials suspect the strain is E. coli O157:H7, a more virulent form, but results confirming it will not be available from the state laboratory for at least another week.

The Bee also reported that one person remained hospitalized at Saint Agnes Medical Center. The story does not say whether that person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of E. coli infection that can lead to kidney failure.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, California E. coli, E. coli Outbreak, Fresno E. coli

E. coli outbreak in Fresno

Posted on May 29, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

E. coli traced to graduation parties 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. KFSN-TV spoke with one of the victims, who said food from the same Fresno market was served at both graduation parties.

According to the Fresno Bee:

[H]ealth workers are talking to people in attendance at two other parties held on the same day to determine if more people have become ill, Moreno said.

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.

How foods become contaminated with E. coli:
(from www.about-ecoli.com)

E. coli O157:H7 bacteria is believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but has also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

Meat typically becomes contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 during the slaughtering process, when the contents of an animal's intestines and feces are allowed to come into contact with the carcass. Unless the carcass is sanitized, the E. coli bacteria are eventually mixed into the meat as it is ground. Because the bacteria is mixed into the meat during the grinding process, and is not just on the surface, thorough cooking (to160 degrees) is required to prevent E. coli O157:H7 poisoning from consumption of ground beef. Contaminated meat looks and smells normal, and although the number of organisms required to cause an infection is not known, it is suspected to be very small.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can become contaminated pre-or post-harvest. Apples picked up from off the ground and used in the production of unpasteurized fruit juices were the source of a large E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1996. Fecal matter from cows’ udders and unsanitary production facilities have led to numerous E. coli outbreaks traced to raw milk. Contaminated seeds, irrigation water, and flooding have contributed to E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach, parsley, and other fresh produce.

www.about-ecoli.com is sponsored by E. coli lawyers at Marler Clark, a law firm with a national reputation for the successful representation of victims of E. coli outbreaks.

Tags: E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Fresno E. coli

E. coli outbreak in New York

Posted on May 23, 2007 by E. coli Lawyer

WTEN TV reported that an E. coli outbreak may be ongoing in Montgomery and Fulton Counties in New York. According to the article:

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.

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.

Several previous E. coli outbreaks have been traced to day care centers. In fact, Marler Clark has represented the families of several children who became ill with E. coli infections while attending day care. See the Marler Clark Web site for descriptions of outbreaks traced to the CCC Alternative Learning Program Daycare in Fort Worth, Texas, Kid's Korner Day Care in Joplin, Missouri, and Kindercare in Folsom, California.

Water slide E. coli 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.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, daycare

Victims of E. coli outbreaks look for answers, solutions

Posted on May 18, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

Taco John's Marler Clark client Teresa Kaiser was recently interviewed for a story that will air on CNN this Saturday and Sunday. 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.

The whole story, "Still no answers in '06 lettuce E. coli outbreak," by CNN producer Stephanie Smith, can be accessed on the CNN Web site.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Legal Cases, E. coli Outbreak, Taco John's, lettuce

Florida E. coli settlements

Posted on May 18, 2007 by E. coli Lawyer

Both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times reported on the settlement of two E. coli claims with the Florida Strawberry Festival today. The claims were settled last week, and approved by a judge on Wednesday.

The Tampa Tribune provided some background information on the settlements:

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, Marler said. Those claims were resolved last year when the 15 victims shared a $1 million settlement from an insurance company representing the petting zoo, Marler said.

Petting zoos have not been featured at the Florida Strawberry Festival since the E. coli outbreak two years ago.

The settlement announced Thursday involves lawsuits filed against the strawberry festival. Other suits are pending against the state fair and Central Florida Fair, Marler said.

The St. Petersburg Times provided details on the two victims' illnesses, and noted that claims against the Central Florida Fair and the Florida State Fair are still being pursued:

The single connection among the three fairs was a petting zoo run by Plant City's Ag-Venture Farm Shows that had infected livestock. Ag-Venture had an insurance policy limit of $1-million, which was divided among all of the people who filed claims, Marler said.

The owner of Ag-Venture, Tom Umiker, could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Jerry Setchel, said Umiker has lost everything -- his business and his animals. About 16 plaintiffs have settled with Ag-Venture, Setchel said, noting that "the matters were amicably resolved."

Marler, who has worked on thousands of E. coli cases, said his goal is not to shut down petting zoos.

"I understand the '50s, apple pie kind of feelings," he said. "However, the fact of the matter is, these petting zoos and county fairs have been a real big source of illnesses for a number of years. ... This bug is out there, and it's something you have to worry about now. You have to protect the people who are coming to enjoy them."

The Marler Clark Web site provides additional information about the petting zoo E. coli outbreak and resulting litigation.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Legal Cases, E. coli Outbreak, E. coli settlement, petting zoo

Victims of 2005 E. coli outbreak reach settlement with Strawberry Festival

Posted on May 17, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

SEATTLE, WA (May 17, 2007) –Two victims of the 2005 E. coli outbreak traced to a petting zoo at the Florida Strawberry Festival 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.

“Our clients and their families are happy to have this litigation behind them,” said William Marler, attorney for the victims and managing partner of Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm that has successfully represented hundreds of E. coli outbreak victims in similar lawsuits.

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. “The Florida Strawberry Festival had plenty of opportunities to become educated about the risks associated with animal exhibits, and petting zoos in particular, but didn’t bother to access the information available and act on existing recommendations to prevent illness among its patrons,” said Marler’s Florida co-counsel, Michael Heilmann, who noted potential sources of information available before the outbreak:

In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings” in an October Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
In 2003, a study on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in livestock at 29 county and 3 large state agricultural fairs in the United States was published. Authors found that E. coli O157:H7 could be isolated from 13.8% of beef cattle, 5.9% of dairy cattle, 3.6% of pigs, 5.2% of sheep, and 2.8% of goats. Over seven percent of pest fly pools also tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 (Keene et al, 2003).
In 2004, Marler Clark launched www.fair-safety.com, a Web site designed to inform users of the risks related with human-animal contact in fair and petting zoo settings.
Also in 2004, Marler presented on legal liability at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions’ 114th Annual Convention and Trade Show.

BACKGROUND: Marler Clark is a law firm dedicated to representing victims of outbreaks of pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7. The firm currently represents over 100 victims of last year’s E. coli outbreaks traced to spinach and lettuce, nearly 5,000 victims of the recent Salmonella outbreak traced to contaminated peanut butter, and nine victims of the 2004 North Carolina State Fair petting zoo E. coli outbreak.

Tags: E. coli Legal Cases, E. coli Outbreak, Petting Zoo E. coli

Source of Bakersfield E. coli outbreak found

Posted on May 14, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

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. From the press release:

After a thorough investigation, the Department of Public Health has identified that an initial exposure occurred on 4/26 during a water slide event, a known source of E. coli exposure in such a situation. This started the chain of an infectious process which stretched from 4/26 - 5/4, where some of the cases became ill following these events. This is consistent with the incubation period for E. coli.

Another significant event occurred on 4/29 during which the same social circle attended that event. This proves to be an event point for secondary infections.

The evidence also supports that the two (2) cases that showed symptoms on 4/27, a day following the water slide event, appeared to have been exposed at an earlier date and were infectious at the time of that event. One of the cases is considered the starting point for the investigation.

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

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, Bakersfield E. coli, E. coli Outbreak, E. coli water slide

E. coli Death - Meat linked to outbreak hard to find

Posted on August 24, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

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 a meat processing plant . . .

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.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Minnesota E. coli

Minnesota E. coli death linked to church dinner

Posted on August 24, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

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 this morning noted that this latest E. coli outbreak caused the first E. coli-related death in Minnesota since 2002.

A spokesman for MDOH was quoted in the article:

"We think primarily what happened was there were a number of illnesses associated with eating potato salad or another cold salad (at the church) 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.

In other words, those preparing the food probably used the same utensils or cutting board for the potatoes as for the beef, he said. E. coli generally comes from the intestines of cows.

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 and to the organizers of the church event. The victims who weren't infected at the church all had eaten at the same restaurant, Schultz said.

"Basically, the message is cook your meat thoroughly and wash fruits and vegetables, and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly when handling raw meat," Schultz said.

The entire article is available at the Pioneer Press Web site.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Death, E. coli Outbreak, Minnesota E. coli

Confirmed E. coli cases in Tennessee

Posted on August 24, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

According to a news report on WDEF-TV, seven people who ate at the same restaurant in Hixson, Tennessee between July 8th and 20th became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections. Four children from one family all became ill, with at least one child needing supportive care when she developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Three of the King's four children contracted the bacteria... Four year old Lexie has improved dramatically... Doctors once feared she wouldn't recover.
. . . Lexie's older sister, Kelsey, spent several days in the hospital while younger brother, Harley, was treated and released for the bacteria.

King says the family is now very cautious about where they eat.

Read more about the outbreak at the WDEF TV Web site.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Tennessee E. coli

Confirmed Cases of E-Coli Could Have Local Link

Posted on August 23, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

Seven People Who Contracted Bacteria Ate At Same Restaurant

Rebecca Cruz
WDEF-TV, A Media General Station
Aug 23, 2006

Health department confirm seven people who fell ill ate at a Hixson restaurant between July 8th and 20th. Since then, restaurant employees all tested negative for the bacteria. Health inspectors required workers to thoroughly sanitize the restaurant.

Three of the King's four children contracted the bacteria... Four year old Lexie has improved dramatically... Doctors once feared she wouldn't recover.

Mother Janet King says Lexie's condition improved dramatically when she came home from the hospital.

Janet King "Lexie's a miracle.. She's just... It's just proof that God is still in control, and, he's still performing miracles today. And, we're so thankful for that"

Lexie "Jesus healed me..."

Lexie's older sister, Kelsey, spent several days in the hospital while younger brother, Harley, was treated and released for the bacteria. King says the family is now very cautious about where they eat...

Janet King "We make sure all we eat is cooked. I'm not sure we'll be eating a lot of red meat from now on, but, we do... There's certain restaurants we choose not to eat at."

The ordeal 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.

King says she's more than grateful for the family, friends, who helped them during their time of need.

Janet King "If we could just go and give each and everyone of them a hug, but, there's no way, no words can explain the appreciation that we have for everyone..."

Friends are hosting a daylong benefit this Saturday at Veterna's Park in Soddy-Daisy. Proceeds will help the Kings with extraordinary medical bills they now have.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Tennessee E. coli

E. coli death is Minnesota's first in 3Ω years

Posted on August 22, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

According to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune,

As many as 30 people in the Longville area were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 infections in the past six weeks.

A woman from Longville, Minn., who apparently ate contaminated food at a church supper, has become the first Minnesotan recorded as dying of E. coli complications in at least 3Ω years.
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, was a former Minneapolis resident, active in her church and its choir, who loved flowers and taught crafts to her grandchildren. She 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; Hawkinson and one other with serious complications.

The entire article is available on the Star-Tribune Web site at www.startribune.com.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Death, E. coli Outbreak, Minnesota E. coli

Recent E. coli breakouts raise concern

Posted on August 14, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

13.aug.06
Daily Herald (Utah)
Heidi Toth

Escherichia coli can be a nasty little bug.

The bacteria, better known as E. coli, is a common organism found in mammals' intestinal tracts, including humans. Various strains show up in many aspects of nature, and for the most part are harmless.

But mess with the wrong one, and the results could be unpleasant.

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.

The North Ogden outbreak, resolved earlier this week, was different. The four cases, three of which were serious, originated from contaminated lettuce in a Wendy's restaurant. Case A ate bad lettuce on a cheeseburger, while the other three cases came from salad served at a conference. All of the cases tested positive for E. coli O121:H19.

Gary House, director of the Weber-Morgan Health Department, which investigated the incident, said his office conducted the investigation and doesn't believe there's any further risk of an outbreak. He doesn't know how the lettuce became infected. He couldn't comment on how serious the individual cases were, but pointed out that hemolytic uremic syndrome, which three of the infected people had, can be life-threatening and leave permanent damage.

And what's worse, E. coli is always a possibility around ground beef, feces, raw milk and some types of produce.

Sounds scary, doesn't it?

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.

"The thing that I would emphasize is there's not a reason for people to panic; they just need to exercise caution," he said.

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. House said the strain that hit North Ogden was more rare, but similar in that both strains are toxic.

"What makes it unique in this particular case is these strains are able to produce what's called a shiga toxin," which is what damages the kidneys, he said.

A person infected with E. coli can show a range of symptoms, from no problems at all to bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and worse. It depends on the type of strain and the infected person.

"Some are more serious than others," Beebe said. "Some won't bother you at all because it's part of your intestinal tract anyhow."

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.

"All these are part of a routine inspection," he said.

People also need to be aware of the E. coli risk in their homes, Beebe said. He advised 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.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Utah E. coli, Wendy's E. coli

8 E. Coli patients out of hospital

Posted on August 14, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

12.aug.06
The Record (North Jersey)
Eunnie Park

CLOSTER -- Eight patients, including six children, who were hospitalized after an E. coli outbreak at a day camp have been released, officials said Friday.
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 with the O157 strain of E. Coli between Aug. 1 and Aug. 6, said Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

State health officials are continuing to investigate the camp to find the source of the infections, Leusner added.

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.

"We are doing everything we can to keep the students safe," she said.
E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of people and animals. Most strains are harmless, but the O157 strain can cause illnesses with symptoms of abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and sometimes fever.

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. About 10 percent of infections can lead to kidney failure, and about 10 percent of those cases can result in death, Kocher said.

Tags: E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, New Jersey E. coli

Campers sickened in E. coli outbreak

Posted on August 11, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

Friday, August 11, 2006
By EUNNIE PARK
STAFF WRITER
NorthJersey.com

CLOSTER -- An E. coli outbreak at a day camp caused several children and staff members to be hospitalized. The camp was shut down temporarily, officials said Thursday.

There were seven confirmed and seven probable cases of infection by the O157 strain of E. coli originating at the Palisades Country Day Camp & School between Aug. 1 and 6, said Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for state Department of Health and Senior Services.

Most of the patients are 5-year-old girls, but staff members could also be infected, Leusner said.

Palisades Country Day Camp & School, on Herbert Avenue, closed voluntarily Wednesday and plans to reopen Monday, Leusner said. State health officials are running tests to find the source of the outbreak.

Camp director Patricia Luttrell declined to comment. All questions were referred to the school's lawyer, who could not be reached. School officials declined to release the name or contact information of the lawyer.

E. coli, or Escherichia coli, are bacteria that normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Although most strains are harmless, the O157 strain causes illness, with severe bloody diarrhea as a symptom.

Infection is frequently caused by ingesting undercooked ground beef or raw milk.

Anyone can become infected with the highly contagious E. coli, but elderly and children under age 5 are at greatest risk of developing a serious illness or dying from the infection.

Closter Health Officer Louis Apa said they were notified of a confirmed E. coli infection case Sunday night.

Over the next couple of days, other children with symptoms of diarrhea and stomach pain were diagnosed, he said.

The patients were treated for dehydration at Englewood Hospital and Hackensack University Medical Center, Apa said.

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 were being treated at the hospital. More information about their identities or conditions was not available.

To find the source of the outbreak, health officials are interviewing parents and testing samples in the state health department's laboratory.

Local, county and state officials are working together on this investigation, Leusner said.

"We're concerned, but no new cases have been reported since Aug. 6," she said. "We have no reason to think that there is any ongoing outbreak at the camp at this time."

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.

Alex Koumbis, a 13-year-old volunteer at the school, said the staff always takes extra measures to keep the facility sanitary -- wearing gloves to serve food, cleaning the pools regularly and keeping the pets in their pens.

"It's very clean," he said. "I don't know how it could have happened."

E-mail: parke@northjersey.com

Tags: E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, New Jersey E. coli

Minnesota Department of Health investigating Longville area E. coli outbreak

Posted on August 9, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

09.aug.06
The Pilot-Independent (Walker, Minnesota) Gail DeBoer

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed that it is investigating a foodborne illness outbreak in the Longville area.

Media spokesperson Doug Schultz said Monday afternoon that 15 cases have been reported to MDH of individuals who have had symptoms of E. coli infection.

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

According to Schultz, 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.

However, he noted that at least three individuals did not attend the potluck.

"We are still investigating a number of other events and are looking at other possibilities," he 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."

E. coli and the O157:H7 strain

E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of humans and animals, and most are harmless. There are as many as 100 different strains, including some found in lake water and soil.

However, the O157:H7 strain produces a powerful toxin that results in severe illness in humans. People ingest E. coli on contaminated foodstuff, through hand-to-mouth contact, or from contaminated water.

Such E. coli infections usually produce severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps but are resolved in five to 10 days without treatment.

In about 2 to 7 percent of cases, the pathogens cause a severe complication called hemolytic-uremic syndrome, in which red blood cells are destroyed and kidneys fail.

How to contact MDH

Schultz asks that anyone from the Longville area who has experienced bloody diarrhea since July 10 call MDH at (877) 676-5414.

Anyone in the community who is experiencing those symptoms also should not prepare food for others, swim in a pool, or do anything that could spread the infection, he cautioned.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, raw and undercooked meat often are carriers of E. coli. Other possibilities include lettuce, including prepackaged salad greens, alfalfa sprouts, and unpasteurized juice, cider or milk.

Schultz said that in the Longville outbreak, it is assumed those who became ill contracted the bacteria from the primary food source, not person-to-person transmission.

"We may not ever know exactly what they ate, but using statistics, we can figure out the most likely culprit, " he predicted.

Salem responds

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

MDH had been unable to reach one family that might have a key bit of information, but Monson said he hoped to put MDH in contact with them.

Monson also stressed that some cases involve non-church members and people who did not attend the July 19 smorgasbord. Some reports were as early as July 8, suggesting "this may be a fairly-widespread community-sourced illness."

"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.

Reporting process

Reports of an outbreak of foodborne illness come to MDH in a number of ways. Typically someone who is ill calls MDH's foodborne illness hotline.

"If we get a number of different calls, we start to look at them," Schultz said.

Doctors who suspect an E. coli outbreak also are required to report to MDH. When doctors send in specimens and MDH gets a positive report at its lab, it begins investigating the incident.

Schultz said he did not know how cases were reported here, "but through those tracking mechanisms, it's not too difficult to spot a cluster." He said that, to his knowledge, this was the first E. coli outbreak in the state this summer.

Countermeasures

Some of the countermeasures to guard against E. coli include cooking all meat above 160 degrees to kill the bacteria; washing fruits and vegetables; drinking only pasteurized milk, juice or cider; washing and disinfecting all cooking utensils, counters and other food preparation surfaces; not swallowing lake or pool water; and diligent hand-washing.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Minnesota E. coli

E. coli infected 4 at meet in northern Utah

Posted on August 8, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

Restaurant lettuce the apparent culprit at June gathering

By Brandy A. Lee
Deseret Morning News

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.

Three of those people developed a more severe case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, the health department said.

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 held June 27-29.

"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.

The restaurant in North Ogden had a regularly scheduled inspection by the health department on June 27. Health inspectors looked at how everything was being done, from when food was brought in the back door to when it was served to customers. No violations nor suggestions for improvement were made by inspectors, Lynch said.

As of Monday, the health department had contacted 75 percent of those who attended the conference. No other cases among the respondents were confirmed to have E.coli.

Weber-Morgan Health Department director Gary House said in a prepared statement he believes the disease outbreak is over. Transmission of the illness is rare. E.coli has an incubation period of two to eight days, which has lapsed, so the health department believes any additional cases would be unusual, House said.

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

Five other E.coli cases were detected earlier in June by the Bear River Health Department in Cache County. The source of infection in that instance is under investigation.

E-mail: blee@desnews.com

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Utah E. coli, Wendy's E. coli

Recent E. coli outbreak still a puzzle in northern Utah

Posted on August 8, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

Collection of extensive histories hasn't found the cause of 5 cases

By Lois M. Collins
Deseret Morning News
Monday, August 7, 2006

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, there have been no new recent cases and the department is now warning residents to take precautions against food-borne and water-borne illness, since both paths have come under suspicion.

Most of the time, says Dr. Edward Redd, deputy director of the department, you find a common food exposure if you take an extensive history, or you can figure out where peopled crossed paths. That hadn't proven so simple with the five lab-confirmed cases of E. coli that took place in Hyrum in June.

They're calling the patients A, B, C, D and E and paint a picture of a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating investigation that yielded clues but not concrete solutions.

A and B were siblings who lived in the southeast portion of Hyrum. On June 6, the department learned they tested positive for the bacteria. Investigators found other family members were sick, though not formally tested. And after tracing where they'd been, investigators chalked it up to hamburger they bought from a private meat cutter and closed the case.

C came into the picture five days later, also diagnosed with E. coli, but from the northwest corner of the city. And her E. coli was identical to that of one of the siblings, suggesting a shared source. But they seemed to have nothing in common. "No common restaurants, no common parties and they don't know each other," Redd says.

Enter cases D and E, who lived in the same subdivision as C, but had a different DNA to their E. coli. They live close by each other and the family children play together, so it wasn't so surprising they were affected, but it was still hard to explain the exact source.

Then things got a little more suggestive of a solution: They found a possible but unprovable connection. The water had been turned off in the subdivision where C, D and E lived for 12 hours. When it went back on, Redd says, officials figure everyone was using it at once and some of it might have flowed the wrong way. The next day, A attended a party in the neighborhood where C lived, providing a possible link between those identical-DNA lab findings by suggesting the water was to blame.

"We can't prove or disprove various theories, though some seem more likely than others," Redd says.

They're now convinced the hamburger played no part in the exposures. If it was water, it hasn't been proven.

The one thing they're sure of is there were two different exposures: A, B and C are likely not related to D and E, although A and C are identical and C, D and E live in the same area. If you're confused, you're not alone, Redd says.

So officials are left with reminding residents to wash vegetables and fruits (with culinary water, not secondary), 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. As for culinary water, if it doesn't look clean, don't drink it or prepare foods with it, health officials say.

E-mail: lois@desnews.com

Tags: E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Utah E. coli

E. coli News Release

Posted on August 8, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

PRESS CONFERENCE RELEASE
Weber-Morgan Health Department(Utah)
AUGUST 7, 2006

Infectious Agent: E.coli O121:H19

The Weber-Morgan Health Department confirms that four people have contracted an E.coli O121:H19 infection with three of these people developing the more severe case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Based upon the findings of our investigation, we have concluded that the probable source of the contamination was iceberg lettuce prepared at the Wendy's Restaurant at 2500 N. 400 E. in North Ogden.

We believe that people may have been exposed to the contaminated lettuce between the period of June 27th and June 30th, 2006. One of the confirmed HUS cases (Case A) ate cheeseburgers with lettuce at the Wendy's Restaurant for three consecutive days, June 27th through the 29th. On June 30th, Wendy's catered a salad luncheon at the CORE Academy Conference held at Orion Junior High School in Harrisville where more than 300 attendees were potentially exposed. A second confirmed HUS case (Case B) attended this conference, only on Friday, June 29th 2006, and ate the Wendy's salad.

A second attendee (Case C) of the conference was also confirmed to have an E.coli infection. Case A and Case C were both confirmed with identical genetic strains of E.coli O121:H19. The only common exposure shared by these three cases was the iceberg lettuce. The third HUS case (Case D) was determined to be a secondary transmission from a self reported infected person who attended the conference.

The Weber-Morgan Health Department determined that the conference attendees represented a known exposure group. We wanted to establish the extent of illness among these attendees, and to determine if secondary cases had occurred. Through the means of a phone bank, we contacted 75% of those who attended the conference. Even though self-reported illness occurred, we were unable to establish any clinically confirmed E.coli cases among the respondents.

Part of our investigation included a thorough inspection of three food establishments that catered to the conference. No significant food code violations were observed. The only common food item shared by cases A, B, and C was iceberg lettuce from Wendy's. We believe that the source of this food borne contamination was limited to this one Wendy's restaurant.

From the time the Weber-Morgan Health Department was first notified of the initial HUS case, we quickly determined that there was no immediate or ongoing threat or risk to the public's health. Otherwise, we would have immediately closed the restaurant in question, and alerted the public.

We believe that this disease outbreak is over. The transmission of this illness is a rare event, and knowing the incubation period of 2-8 days and the time that has elapsed from the initial occurrence, we believe that the possibility of any additional cases is very remote.

Tags: E. coli Watch, E. coli Outbreaks, E. coli Outbreak, Utah E. coli, Wendy's E. coli

Wendy's source of E. coli

Posted on August 8, 2006 by E. coli Lawyer

Health department believes outbreak over

BY ANDREW WEEKS
Standard-Examiner staff aweeks@standard.net

OGDEN -- Four people contracted severe E coli infections after eating lettuce from a Wendy's restaurant at 2594 N. 400 East, in North Ogden, between June 27 and 30, health officials announced Monday.

Three of the four cases were traced directly or indirectly to a CORE Academy conference held at Orion Junior High School in Harrisville and catered by Wendy's. The fourth case was an individual who ate at the Wendy's for three straight days during that same time period.

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. From 1A

"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.

To continue reading the full article, visit the Standard-Examiner Web site.