Updated July 27: A recall has been issued for beef products from PT Farm of North Haverhill, N.H.
A New Hampshire E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef now includes 13 people, according to state health officials who are still working to determine the source of the ground beef. Those who became ill consumed the meat at various locations.
“It is important for people to avoid eating under-cooked ground beef whether at home or at a restaurant. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to severe illness with this infection,” said Marcella Bobinsky, Acting Director of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
State health officials are working the the U.S. Department of Agriculture to tracj teh source of the outbreak.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection, which include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody, last about a week. Anyone with these symptoms should seek medical attention. E. coli infections should not be treated with antibiotics or antacids as these can worsen infections and increase the risk of life-threatening complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Those most at risk for E. coli infections are children, seniors, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women.
To avoid illness, people should only eat ground beef that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 160˚ F. Color is not an indicator of proper cooking.
