June 8, 2012

US states affected by E.coli outbreak

US state health departments have confirmed that a fatal case of E.coli in New Orleans on May 31 is linked to about 11 illnesses across the southern states of the country.

Officials said that five people have been affected in the Georgia E coli outbreak; two adults are ill in Louisiana, where a toddler has also died, two in Alabama and one in Florida.

Food Safety News said that the Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee state health departments say they are working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the outbreak. The CDC has not yet released any other information related to the investigation, but a spokeswoman said states are in various stages of investigation while CDC plays a supportive organising role.

So far, health officials do not know the source of the contamination, but many say the contamination vehicle is likely food.

The confirmed outbreak illnesses appear to have first begun in mid-April to early May.

As of June 4, E. coli O145 is one of the 'Big Six' E. coli strains now considered an adulterant in ground beef and non-intact beef products by the USDA.