Updated October 31. 2008 1:53PM
E. coli
cases investigated in Eastern Iowa
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By Cindy Hadish
The Gazette
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Source of Article: http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081031/NEWS/710319925/1006/news
Iowa health officials have
been unable to pinpoint the cause of a cluster of E.coli
infections in Eastern Iowa.
The five people considered part of the cluster all drank unpasteurized apple
cider, but some also ate unwashed apples and ground beef that may not have
been fully cooked, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Potential sources of E.coli contamination include
drinking raw, unpasteurized juice or milk; contact with farm animals at farms
or a petting zoo; eating undercooked ground meat or foods contaminated by raw
meat juices; and eating raw, unwashed produce.
E.coli can also be transmitted from an ill person
to a healthy person, which is why health experts emphasize hand washing.
Since late September, 29 cases of E.coli have been
reported to the state health department, compared to an average of 18 cases
during that same time over the last five years.
Of those, 22 were children aged 12 and younger. Several children were
admitted to the hospital and a few experienced significant
kidney damage.
Health department spokeswoman Polly Carver-Kimm did
not know if the hospitalized children were from Eastern
Iowa.
The main symptom of E.coli infection is diarrhea,
which may be bloody. Stomach cramps and chills can also occur. Fever is rare.
Health officials advise anyone with symptoms of E.coli
to consult a doctor immediately.
About 8 percent of patients, especially young children, develop kidney complications.
The infection can also cause a person’s blood clotting systems to
malfunction.
To prevent E.coli infections, experts recommend:
l Make sure fresh juice or milk has been pasteurized. Even small samples can
make a person sick.
l People with diarrhea should not prepare food for
others.
l Wash
hands with soap and water after using the restroom. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol based hand gel.
l When caring for someone with diarrhea, wash your hands after giving any
care and make sure that the ill person’s hands are frequently washed.
l Cook hamburger and other ground meats thoroughly —
to a temperature of 155 degrees for at least 15-16 seconds, or until juices
run clear and no pink is visible.
l Wash fresh vegetables or fruits thoroughly before
eating.
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