A Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 29 people and has hospitalized nine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A food has not yet been identified. The government is calling this a "fast-moving outbreak." Officials in Wood county in Ohio and Ottawa county in Michigan have been reporting an alarming increase in E. coli illnesses in the past week. In fact, on August 17, 2022, Michigan officials said that there are 98 people sick with E. coli infections in Ottawa, Kent, and Oakland counties. Public health officials are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing is being used on patient isolates to match patients to the outbreak strain. And this genetic sequencing is showing … [Read more...]
Almost 100 Sick with E. coli in Three Michigan Counties
Almost 100 people are sick with E. coli infections in three Michigan counties, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and three local heath departments. The counties affected are Kent, Ottawa, and Oakland. Ottawa county has been releasing statements about E. coli illness clusters in that area. According to the last update, 18 people are sick in that county alone, an increase from the last reported total of 12 sick. This case count allegedly includes an infant who is hospitalized. At least two people in Ottawa county have hemolytic ureic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of an E. coli infection. The health department has received reports of 98 cases of E. … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Illness Cluster Grows to 16 Sick
The Wood county Ohio E. coli illness cluster has grown to include 16 patients, with six hospitalized, according to 24 News. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. There is no word on whether or not any hospitalized patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure and a complication of an E. coli infection. Lab samples have been sent to the Ohio Department of Health. Genetic testing will be conducted on those isolates to see if the cases are connected and something the patients have in common made them ill. The results are expected this week. Until lab tests confirm that at least two or more unrelated people are sickened with the same strain of E. coli, an outbreak will not be named. Benjamin Robison, health commissioner for the Wood … [Read more...]
Ottawa County MI E. coli Outbreak Grows to 12 Sick, 2 HUS Cases
![[caption id="attachment_96425" align="alignright" width="249"] Food Safety Lawyer and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher Eric Hageman[/caption] Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized."](https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/Kidney-150x150.jpg)
According to Wood TV 8, the Ottawa County MI E. coli outbreak has grown to include 12 sick people with five hospitalized. Derek Glashower of the Ottawa County Health Department told that outlet that two children have "serious kidney complications," which probably means hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized." This Ottawa county MI E. coli outbreak is unusual because that area usually sees just two to three cases of E. coli infections every August. This number of illnesses is a significant … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Outbreak Sickens at Least 15
A Wood county Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 15 people and hospitalized five, according to news reports. That is three years' worth of those illnesses for that county that have been reported in one week. Genetic testing is underway to see if the cases are related, with results expected early next week. There is another ongoing E. coli outbreak in Ottawa county, Michigan. At least nine preple are sick in that outbreak, with four hospitalized. There is currently no indication that the illnesses in those two locations are related, but that could change depending on what investigators find. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. The five hospitalized patients range in age from 21 to 60. The Wood County Health Department is working with the Ohio Department of Health … [Read more...]
Increase in E. coli Cases in Ottawa County, Michigan Sickens 9
An increase in E. coli cases in Ottawa County, Michigan has sickened at least nine people and hospitalized four, according to the Ottawa Department of Public Health. The pathogen is shiga toxin E. coli (STEC), which is the type that causes serious illness in people, and can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), especially in young children. This is a high number of cases for any area. STEC bacteria is usually tied to food poisoning outbreaks. The pathogen lives in the guts of ruminant animals and is excreted in their feces. There is no word on what officials are investigating, whether it's a restaurant or some particular type of food. In the past, E. coli outbreaks have been linked to flour, ground beef, raw sprouts, unpasteurized milk, spinach, romaine lettuce, bagged salad … [Read more...]
Canada Again Puts Import Requirements on U.S. Romaine Lettuce
For the second year in a row, Canada has put import requirements on U.S. romaine lettuce because of several E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to that product. These requirements will be in effect from September 28 to December 22, 2022. These restrictions were also in place in 2021. U.S. authorities have identified a geographical area as a recurring source of these outbreaks: the California Salinas Valley counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey. The temporary Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) license conditions for the import of romaine from these regions has two requirements. The import requirements on U.S. romaine lettuce are: importers must declare that the product does not originate from those counties, or they must submit an attestation form and Certificate … [Read more...]
Two New Salmonella Outbreaks Added to FDA CORE Table
Two new Salmonella outbreaks have been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There is no more information provided on these outbreaks, as is typical for the FDA's new way of transmitting information. The first new outbreak is a Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ outbreak in a not yet identified product. So far, at least 13 people have been sickened in that outbreak. We do not know the states where the ill persons live, their age range, illness onset dates, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. So far, traceback has been initiated, but there is no recall, no one-site inspection, and no samples have been collected or tested. The second new outbreak is a Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that has sickened at least 40 people. Traceback has been initiated, … [Read more...]
Possible Georges Mill Farm Goats E. coli Outbreak in Lovettsville, Virginia
A possible Georges Mill Farm goats E. coli outbreak is being reported by the Loudoun County Health Department in Virginia. Several people who came in contact with goats at that farm between March 6 and April 20, 2022 have experienced symptoms of an E. coli infection. The bacteria was identified by the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. We don't know the age of the patients or if anyone has been hospitalized. The health department is communicating directly with anyone who is known to have had contact with goats at that farm. If you are part of that group but have not been contacted, monitor your health for the symptoms of an E. coli infection and see your healthcare provider if you do get sick. Tell him or her about your possible exposure to those animals. You can … [Read more...]
Fall Harvested Romaine More Likely to Cause E. coli Outbreaks
Agricultural Research Scientists have found that fall harvested romaine is more likely to contain more E. coli bacteria and cause more outbreaks, according to the USDA. Between 1998 and 2019, there were 36 outbreaks traced back to lettuce, particularly romaine lettuce, that was harvested in the fall on the California Central Coast, and in late winter in Southern California and Arizona. The seasonal outbreaks are more frequently associated with commercially grown lettuce harvested at the end of the growing season. The question is why. ARS microbiologist Maria Brand, leader of the study, said in a statement, "To begin unravelling the causes of these seasonal outbreaks, our research team looked at various factors to identify conditions that may increase E. coli survival on fresh-cut … [Read more...]
