At least 122 people in Alberta have contracted E.coli O157:H7, infections during the last month, according to the Canadian Press. There are 59 confirmed cases in Calgary, 48 in Edmonton, seven in the South, six in the North and two the Central zone.
Health authorities have not yet determined the source of the outbreak. Sprouts have been mentioned as possible source. Some of the case patients who were hospitalized earlier this month told investigators they ate fresh bean sprouts prior to becoming ill.
E.coli can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening illness. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody are the main symptoms. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor.
Canadian health officials remind consumers that ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160˚ F, that all vegetables should be washed under cold running water and the dried before eating and the cooking sprouts is the safest way to consumes them.
