E. Coli Outbreak is Growing

By Misti Crane, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio

Jun. 18–The central Ohio E. coli outbreak is growing while health officials continue their search for a source of the bacteria.

A team of health departments that includes the city of Columbus; Delaware, Fairfield and Franklin counties; and the state reported an additional case yesterday, bringing the total since early June to 12. The new case is from Fairfield County.

Also, a fourth case was genetically linked to three others through state lab testing, meaning that those cases — all discovered within Franklin County — are likely from the same source. None of the linked cases was caused by the strain found in a 52-year-old Gahanna woman who died May 27.

Pinning down that source is a difficult task, and investigators continue to ask detailed questions to try to find the cause of the outbreak, said Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams, medical director and assistant health commissioner at Columbus Public Health.

Likening the job to detective work, she said everyone involved hopes to unearth something soon.

While E. coli can be deadly, most people infected with the bacteria experience less-severe illness, and many cases are never reported to health officials. People experiencing gastrointestinal troubles should first call their doctors.

Columbus Public Health offers this advice:

–Wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, as well as before and after eating or preparing food.

–Cook ground beef to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Do not eat ground beef that is still pink in the middle.

–If a restaurant serves you an undercooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.

–Don’t spread bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat away from other foods. Wash your hands, cutting board, counter, dishes, knives and forks with hot, soapy water after they touch raw meat, spinach, greens or sprouts.

–Never put cooked hamburgers or other meat back on the plate they were on before cooking. Wash the meat thermometer after each use.

–Drink only pasteurized milk, juice or cider. Frozen juice and juice sold in boxes and glass jars at room temperature has been pasteurized, although it might not say so on the label.

–Drink water from safe sources, such as municipal water that has been treated with chlorine, wells that have been tested or bottled water.

–Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

–Do not swallow lake or pool water while you are swimming.

–Wash your hands after touching animals.

mcrane@dispatch.com

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