An E. coli outbreak has sickened at least six children in Lodi, California. The children all attend the same elementary school, but the principal says health officials have ruled out the school as the source of the outbreak.
Two of the children in the same class have confirmed cases of E.coli poisoning , one of them, a second grader, was hospitalized. The school has done a thorough cleaning of affected classrooms and health investigators say no E.coli bacteria was found in the cafeteria.
Symptoms of E.coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and diarrhea that can be bloody. Children with E.coli infections are at risk for a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which causes kidney failure, seizure, stroke and coma.
Common sources of E.coli infection include undercooked beef, raw leafy greens, unpasteurized milk or juice and contact with live animals.
