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Fourth E. coli case confirmed
By Diane
Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:54 PM CDT
Source of Article: http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2008/10/23/news/02.txt
CARTHAGE, Ill. - The possible E. coli case reported
by the Hancock County Health Department has been confirmed as the E. coli
0157:H7 bacteria, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the area to
four.
Two people in Lee County and one in Des Moines County
also have been confirmed to be infected by E. coli.
The source of contamination or links between the cases have
not been determined.
“We have not established any links with the other cases,” Kelly Rife said
today.
Rife is a certified nurse practitioner at the Hancock County Health
Department. Infectious Diseases Coordinator Victoria Roberts is out of the
office today at Hancock County Health Department.
Roberts has said previously that information will be released when it is
known.
To find the source of contamination, state and county health
departments perform DNA tests on samples and interview the people with E.
coli. DNA will show whether the infection came from the same source.
E. coli is usually spread when a person consumes food or drinks contaminated
with feces from another infected person or animal. Unpasteurized milk and
uncooked meat also can carry E. coli.
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