|
Date
Published: Monday, February 16th, 2009 Source of Article: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4753 The number of cases in a Test results isolating the outbreak’s source have
not been released; however, Dr. Chris Urbina,
director of Denver Public Health and the investigator’s lead, said that the
so-called “working hypothesis” is that the E. coli infection is likely linked
to the Stock Show given that 16 children who later fell ill attended the
event, reported the Denver Post. Dr. Urbina
reported test results were expected this week; E. coli are a group of bacteria found in animal
intestines and feces. While some strains are necessary for digestion;
some are harmful, deadly, and toxin-producing and part of a group of E. coli
called Verocytotoxigenic E. coli, or VTECs, also known as Shiga-producing E. coli. Of
particular concern is the virulent, sometimes deadly E. coli O157:H7 strain
that is part of this group and is generally found to be the culprit in E.
coli-related illness outbreaks. E. coli may cause fatal blood poisoning,
cystitis, deadly septicemia, and death. Symptoms of E. coli infection
include stomach cramps and watery diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to
three days. E. coli generally taints meat through improper butchering
and processing practices and, once released in the body, produces the
Shiga-producing toxins that have been linked to kidney damage in young
children, and can also lead to kidney failure and death. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that the principal cause of
acute renal failure among children in the United States is E. coli O157:H7
infections; among patients with HUS (Hemolytic-uremic syndrome), about five
percent will die. Also, most cases of diarrhea-associated HUS are
caused by shiga-producting E. coli (STEC), of which
strain O157:H7 is most closely linked with HUS worldwide; at least 80 percent
of childhood HUS is attributable to infection with STEC, primarily E. coli
O157:H7. E. coli is routinely found on cattle farms and in
the intestines of healthy livestock with outbreaks occuring
when meat becomes tainted during slaughter and organisms contaminate the
grounding process. Tainted meat is released and consumed by the
public. In recent years the transmission route for E. coli O157:H7 is
shifting and not always caused by meat consumption with outbreaks occurring
more and more with direct and indirect animal contact—zoonotic
contact—such as at petting zoos, said the CDC. According to CDC
estimates, there are over 70,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occurring
in the According to the Examiner and the Associated
Press, all but one case has occurred in children; health officials expect to
see more cases since a wide variety of schools and day care centers sponsored
trips to the stock show, which took place from January 10 through the
25. Pat Grant, National Western president and CEO, said the stock show
takes precautions to prevent the spread of E. coli, such as posting signs and
maintaining hand-washing stations around petting areas. |
Copyright (C) All rights reserved under FoodHACCP.com
If you have any comments, please send your
email to
