12.dec.06
Minnesota Department of Health
http://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/ecoli121106.html
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating an outbreak of suspected E. coli O157 infections in southern Minnesota that may be connected to reports of infections in Cedar Falls, Iowa among people who ate at Taco John’s restaurants.
Over the weekend, health care providers from Albert Lea and Austin reported an increase in patients with bloody diarrhea, one of the tell-tale symptoms of E. coli O157 infection. Several of the patients had stool specimens that tested preliminarily positive for E. coli at clinical laboratories. MDH is seeking to have those specimens tested in the MDH Public Health Laboratory for confirmation of E. coli O157.
Interviews with three patients indicated they ate at the Taco John’s restaurant in Albert Lea during the period from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, which is within the time period associated with the Iowa outbreak, Nov. 28 through Dec. 6.
MDH is working cooperatively with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the restaurant owner to inspect the facility, collect and analyze samples from the restaurant and assess possible sources of the illnesses.
“We do not yet know whether these cases in Minnesota are actually linked to any cases in Iowa,” said Dr. Kirk Smith, who supervises foodborne investigation for MDH. “We won’t know that conclusively until we can conduct genetic fingerprint analysis on samples, and that won’t be complete for at least two days. However, because of concern over the Iowa cases and our preliminary findings in Minnesota, we wanted to make residents aware of our investigation.”
At this point, Smith said, there is no indication that this outbreak is related to the recent Taco Bell-associated E. coli O157 outbreak in the Northeastern United States.
Symptoms of E. coli O157 illness include stomach cramps and diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea may develop. E. coli O157 disease sometimes leads to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure. People typically become ill two to five days after eating contaminated food. E. coli O157 disease should not be treated with antibiotics, which can cause additional complications.
Anyone who has eaten at a Taco John’s restaurant since Thanksgiving and has experienced bloody diarrhea is asked to call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 between 5 and 8 p.m. today (Monday) and 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.