An E. coli 0157 outbreak in Canada has grown to include 15 people. Ten people have been reported ill in Nova Scotia, and five people are ill in New Brunswick. No source of the illnesses has been found.
According to a translation by Google, five cases were reported by the Capital District Health, two cases in the Guysborough Antigonish Strait, and one case each in Pictou County, Cumberland, and Colchester East Hants. In New Brunswick, two cases were reported in the St. John region and three in Fredericton. All patients have recovered or are recovering.
Dr. Robert Strang, Chief of Public Health for Nova Scotia, said in a statement, “there is no reason to worry. We know that the incubation period of the bacterium E. coli 0157 is one to ten days. It is therefore not surprising to see more cases as those symptoms are tested.”
Anyone with the symptoms of an E. coli 0157 infection, including abdominal cramps, vomiting, and watery and/or bloody diarrhea, should contact their health care providers. E. coli infections must be reported to the government. Public health officials are investigating to see if there is a link between these cases or a common source of infection. To prevent further spread of the bacteria, wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and changing diapers and before preparing food, keep raw meats and poultry away from raw and ready to eat foods, and avoid drinking raw milk.
Update: Sun News Network is reporting that some kind of processed food, perhaps distributed through restaurants, is the “most likely culprit” of the outbreak. The investigation is apparently focusing on produce as the source of the infections.
