An E.coli outbreak that includes seven people in Kansas has health investigators searching for answers. Four of those sickened developed a severe complication of E.coli infections called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and were hospitalized. Three of them are children.
The cases were reported from four counties- Nemaha, Cowley, Harvey and Sedgwick. Some of those sickened attended the same event. Health officials have not yet identified the source of the outbreak but have determined that it is not part of the multistate E.coli outbreak linked ground beef produced by Wolverine Packing Company of Detroit.
At least 11 people are part of that four-state E.coli O157 outbreak: five in Michigan, four in Ohio, 1 in Missouri and 1 in Massachusetts. A recall for almost 2 million pounds of ground beef products produced by Wolverine Packing Company of Detroit has been issued. The recall included a 97-page list of ground beef products distributed to retail and restaurant locations nationwide.
Health officials have not released the names of restaurants involved. Consumers are advised not to order or prepare rare burgers, When dining out ask for them to be cooked to an internal temperature of 160˚ F, the temperature required to kill E. coli. At home, use an instant read food thermometer. Color or time cooked are not reliable measures of food safety.
