The outbreak of E. coli 0145 in six southern states has grown by one more case. Four of the patients have been hospitalized; one person, a toddler, died in Louisiana. The one new case is in Louisiana; that person became ill on April 21, 2012.
The case count is as follows:
- Alabama (2)
- California (1)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (5)
- Louisiana (5)
- Tennessee (1)
A source for the infections has not been found. The dates for illness onset range from April 15, 2012 to May 12, 2012. The patient age range is from 1 year to 79 years old. Seventy-three of the patients are female.
It has been six weeks since the last illnesses was reported, which may mean the outbreak is over. But the epi curve suggests there may be two more cases that the government may learn about, since cases that occurred after May 5, 2012, might not yet be reported.
Food Poisoning Bulletin has been reporting on this outbreak since the news broke of the death of the Louisiana toddler. On June 5, 2012, we broke the news that there were cases of the outbreak strain in Georgia as well as in Louisiana.
If you or anyone you know has been suffering with the symptoms of an E. coli infection, which includes diarrhea that may be bloody, a mild fever, vomiting, and severe abdominal or stomach cramps, please see your health care provider immediately. It’s important that anyone sickened with the outbreak strain of this bacteria is included in the investigation, because one person could break the case.
