Yesterday we reported on yet another E. coli outbreak emerging in Canada.  Now, the number of confirmed cases of E. coli infection among people who ate at the University of Guelph late last month has reached seven, with six hospitalizations.  The health unit there is pending test results for a number of people—at least over one dozen—with possible infections.  Al those confirmed infected with E. coli ate at the University of Guelph campus, but not all at the same location.  The E. coli contamination seems to have occurred somewhere on or near July 23 in a kitchen that prepares and distributes food to a variety of university eateries.

“We have no evidence, to date, that there was continued contamination,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, acting medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.  “We continue to look at all possible causes of this outbreak.  But we believe that whatever was there is gone.”  Mercer said the health unit has not yet ruled out a food brought into the kitchen around the time of the contamination. (more…)

It seems that health authorities may have located the source of the E. coli outbreak that sickened 18 at the Goshen Boy Scout camp located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has just released a report that S&S Foods LLC, of Azusa, California, is recalling approximately 154,000 pounds of frozen ground beef products.  The USDA says S&S beef may be contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7 bacterium

E. coli strain O157:H7 is a particularly virulent strain that produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness—blood poisoning, cystitis, septicemia—and even death and is the leading cause of food and waterborne illness in the U.S.  According to Center of Disease Control (CDC) estimates, there are about 73,000 reported cases of infection yearly with 2,100 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.  It is estimated that for every laboratory-confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infection, another four-to-eight symptomatic cases are missed.  And, now, emerging data confirms the negative health effects of E. coli can remain for months and years; can have long-term, lasting effects; and can appear months or years after the original illness. (more…)

The E. coli bacteria seems to be sweeping North America in recent months with outbreaks popping up in a variety of states in the US as well as in Canada.  Now, at least 20 people may have fallen ill after eating E. coli tainted food at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.  Public officials there have confirmed five E. coli cases and are calling at least another 15 suspect.

“This strain, 0157H7, is particularly nasty,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, acting medical officer of health for the region.  Strain 0157:H7 is more than just nasty; it’s lethal and can cause blood poisoning, cystitis, septicemia, and death.  In the US, E. coli is the leading cause of food-borne illness with about 73,000 people becoming infected and 61 people dying from E. coli each year.  Last year alone, over 22 million pounds of beef and vegetables were recalled due to E. coli outbreaks. (more…)

Alan Lambert, Scout Executive for the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America has reported that beef at the Goshen Boy Scouts camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia has tested positive for E. coli and is the culprit in the recent E. coli outbreak that sickened at least 16 people.  The Goshen Scout Reservation was shut down yesterday for an indefinite period of time.  According to a recent Associated Press report, public health officials who visited Goshen examined its food handling and storage practices and recommended changes, said Robert Hicks, director of the Office of Environmental Health Services.

Last year alone, over 22 million pounds of beef and vegetables were recalled due to E. coli outbreaks and, currently, there is a multi-state E coli outbreak that has been linked to Nebraska Beef supplied to Kroger Grocery, among others.  This outbreak is possibly linked to an emerging outbreak that was just reported in Massachusetts, where six people have been confirmed stricken with E. coli 0`57:H7. (more…)

In yet another case where Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in raw milk, Autumn Valley Farm in Worcester, New York, has voluntarily suspended raw milk sales directly to consumers until follow-up sampling indicates the raw milk is free of pathogens.  According to a State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Listeria monocytogenes was found during routine testing from a sample taken by one of its inspector’s on July 22; testing was conducted in the agency’s food laboratory.  Testing is scheduled to take place this week and can take seven-to-10 days for results, said Agriculture and Markets spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden, who added that sales can resume when testing shows the milk, which is unpasteurized, to be bacteria free.

Listeria is one of six pathogens tested for in raw milk, Chittenden said.  Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning generated by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria and is dangerous to the elderly, pregnant women, newborns, and those with chronic medical conditions.  In serious cases, the disease spreads to the nervous system.  In pregnant women, Listeriosis can result in miscarriage or stillbirth.  Because listeria thrives in cold, milk is an ideal environment. (more…)

News releases all over the country are reporting that six more people have fallen ill with E. coli, this time in Massachusetts.  All six were infected with deadly E. coli strain 0157:H7, the most virulent of the strains.  Meanwhile, federal and state health officials are investigating the cases, which appear to be linked to those occurring nationwide associated with recalled meat from Nebraska Beef Limited.  Five of the patients required hospitalization, patients ranged in age from three to 60, and all six victims fell ill between July 10-16.

Although the contamination source has not been identified, state and US Department of Agriculture investigators are looking at ground beef.  This particular E. coli strain is typically found in cattle intestines, said Dr. Bela Matyas, medical director of the epidemiology program for the state health department.  E. coli taints meat through improper butchering and processing practices and, once released in the body, produces a type of toxin that leads to severe bleeding and diarrhea, has been associated with kidney damage in young children, and can also lead to kidney failure and death.  Symptoms of E. coli infection include stomach cramps and watery diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to three days. (more…)

Although official reports vary, the recent E. coli outbreak at the Boy Scout camp in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has sickened somewhere between 15 and 18 people with at least 15 boy and cub scouts and one adult confirmed poisoned by E. coli.  Of these, there have been 10 hospitalizations.  Six of these patients were treated and released and, of the four remaining, two had hemolytic uremic syndrome.  HUS occurs when the toxin produced by the bacterium enters the bloodstream, according to Health Department epidemiologist, Christopher Novak.  HUS can lead to kidney failure and can require dialysis.  It is believed that the outbreak is responsible for additional illness numbering in the dozens.  Those confirmed infected have been infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a seriously virulent and sometimes deadly strain of E. coli.

The Virginia Department of Health said it began receiving reports last Sunday when boys from about 70 troops returned home after spending a week at the Goshen Scout Reservation.  About 1,700 people passed through Goshen last week, said Novak, who added, “This one is challenging in that it has multiple states involved, and the individuals there are fairly dispersed,” he said. “We are trying to … as quickly as possible, get a sense of how widespread the outbreak may be, how many people are ill.”  Reports indicate that many as 60-70 people are now exhibiting symptoms of E. coli infection. (more…)

Health officials confirmed that 13 boys have fallen ill with E. coli bacterial infections while at a Scout camp in Goshen, Virgina last week.  Two have been hospitalized and officials are concerned that more may become ill with the sometimes-fatal infection.

The Virginia Department of Health began receiving reports of sick children on Sunday, when boys from about 70 troops returned home after spending a week at the Goshen Scout Reservation.  About 1,700 people passed through Goshen last week and the source of the outbreak remains under investigation, said Christopher Novak, a Health Department medical epidemiologist analyzing the case.  “This one is challenging in that it has multiple states involved, and the individuals there are fairly dispersed,” he said. “We are trying to … as quickly as possible, get a sense of how widespread the outbreak may be, how many people are ill.” (more…)

A Missouri family has filed a lawsuit against a raw milk distributor over claims of an E. coli infection.  Brian and Angela Pedersen allege they bought raw milk from Soni Copeland and The Herb Depot and Organic Market in Barry County, Missouri last April.  The Pedersen’s say that after they fed the raw milk to their one-year-old infant son, he tested positive for E. coli and then developed a life-threatening syndrome.  The Pedersen’s attorney says retail establishments, such as The Herb Depot, should not sell raw milk.

Meanwhile, four people recently fell ill after ingesting E. coli-tainted raw milk purchased from Town Farm Dairy—the only Connecticut farm certified to sell raw, organic milk.  In the first E. coli case, a two-year-old fell ill last month.  The second cased followed five days later and struck a seven-year-old.  In another recent  E. coli case linked to raw milk, three adults and 15 children were sickened by raw milk traced back to Dee Creek’s dairy; three of the children were hospitalized with renal failure, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Michael and Anita Puckett, owners of Dee Creek’s, pleaded guilty to distribution of adulterated food involved in the December 2005 E. coli outbreak that involved raw milk and sickened 18 people in Washington and Oregon.  The couple faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine at their September 5 sentencing later this year. The case was prosecuted in federal court because the milk crossed state lines.   (more…)

Fresno, California’s Beef Packers, Inc., is recalling approximately 1,560 pounds of beef cheek products over concerns that the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (UDSA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered during company microbiological testing and the recall is identified as a Class I Recall, which means that this is a health hazard situation wherein there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The beef cheek products were shipped to distributors in Fresno, Modesto, Santa Rosa and Vernon, California and involve the following product:  30-pound boxes of “CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, BEEF CHEEK MEAT – SM BX. ”These boxes of beef cheek meat products bear the establishment number “EST. 354” and a “PACKED ON” date of “07/02/08,” ink-jet printed on the label, however, the product was intended for further processing or for packaging as raw beef cheek meat and will likely not bear the establishment number “EST. 354” on products available for direct consumer purchase. (more…)