West Virginia Media reports that the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department announced today that an Ohio County resident is said to have E. coli.

Surrounding states have reported cases of the disease, but the Ohio County report is the first in West Virginia. Tests are being conducted in Virginia to determine whether the disease is related to a nationwide outbreak connected with eating fresh spinach.  

Consumers across the country have been advised not to eat fresh spinach or salad blends containing raw spinach.

Including the case in Ohio County, 147 people in 24 states are sick from eating spinach thought to be tainted by E.coli.

Canned, frozen or already prepared spinach, such as that found in frozen dinners, is said to be safe.