Seven people have been hospitalized in a Georgia E.coli outbreak associated with BBQ Shack in Toccoa that has sickened 11 people. Five of them are being treated for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli infections that can be life-threatening. Health officials say 10 of the 11 people sickened ate at the BBQ Shack the weekend of May 2-4, 2013 and that no other commonalities were reported. Ten of the patients are from Georgia and one is from South Carolina. Between May 4 to May 8, 2013, they all developed symptoms of an E.coli infection, which include diarrhea that can be bloody and abdominal cramps. Officials from the North Health District, and the Stephens County Health Department continue to investigate E. coli O157:H7 illnesses which all occurred during early … [Read more...]