November 1999
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - At least 321 people, including 19 children under 10, from Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri, have been infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7.
Beef served at a private garden party held Sept. 4 at a farm near Petersburg, Ill., is believed to be the source of infection.
E. coli was confirmed by laboratory tests as the cause of illness for 58 people. Interviews with people who were hospitalized, as well as others who have become sick, and their physicians, linked the illnesses to the party, which was held in a cow pasture.
Laboratory tests of stool samples, beef served at the party and cow manure collected from the farm where party was held revealed the presence of E. coli bacteria.
About 1,800 people from 16 counties in Illinois and from seven other states (California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio) attended the event. Health departments in those states have been notified about the outbreak.
"We have notified (the other state health departments) and asked them to be on the lookout for other E. coli cases," said Tom Schafer, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
To date, 670 people who may have been at the party have been contacted. Those called have been questioned about whether they became ill, what food they ate, what they drank and other possible exposures. Three secondary infections have also been reported in adults who did not attend the party. Schafer said they were not in professions that may put anyone else at risk of becoming sick.
E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe, bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps in some and few or no symptoms in others. In children and the elderly in particular, the infection may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can result in stroke, seizures and even death. No HUS cases have been identified to date in this outbreak.
The typical incubation period for the disease ranges from three to eight or more days. Symptoms generally resolve on their own after five to 10 days.
E. coli O157:H7 can be found in the intestines and fecal waste of cattle. When the animals are slaughtered, intestinal contents can contaminate the meat as well. The bacteria are present in the stools of infected people as well and can be passed from person to person if hand washing is inadequate.
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