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Locust Grove E. coli 0111 Outbreak Update

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), at least 231 persons have become ill as the result of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma that has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Of that number, 185 were adults, 43 were children and the ages of three cases have not yet been confirmed.

At least 61 persons have been hospitalized including 16 who have received dialysis treatment due to the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Of that number, nine were children and seven were adults.  One 26-year-old man died.

The OSDH cautions that the number of reported cases and hospitalizations associated with the outbreak are likely to change as the investigation continues.

The source of the outbreak has not been found. Laboratory analysis of the restaurant’s well water found no E. coli 0111 bacterium. Laboratory analysis of environmental samples taken from the restaurant indicated no disease-causing pathogens were found on the restaurant’s surfaces. Laboratory analysis of food samples from the restaurant is continuing.

“We found no firm evidence of E. coli 0111 on food preparation and serving surfaces,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “I would caution, however, that it is very challenging to go to the scene of a food-borne illness outbreak and try to retrieve an organism from surfaces that may have been cleaned since any contamination took place.”

“It is possible that any environmental contamination was not widespread in the restaurant, so our epidemiological investigation will continue to focus on what foods may have been contaminated and caused persons to become ill,” Bradley said.

E. coli 0111 was identified from laboratory specimens of patients sickened by the outbreak.

Our law firm has been contacted by families of victims of this outbreak.  To contact us for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on September 11, 2008 (boomark / email).