E. coli patient count rises

[madokie]

This is happening in my hometown at one of the, used to be, most favored resturants in this area. dm


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080903_17_A1_polaeg250329




By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
9/3/2008
Last Modified: 9/3/2008 2:17 AM


206 people have gotten sick, making this outbreak the largest of this strain of the bacteria.


An outbreak of illness due to a rare and virulent strain of E. coli bacteria appears to be the largest of its kind ever reported in the United States, state health officials said Tuesday.

"The complexity of this outbreak and the necessity to be extremely thorough in our investigation means we still have more questions than answers," said state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley.

Meanwhile, the number of people falling ill from the bacteria continues to rise.

At least 206 people have been sickened by the deadly bacteria, including 149 adults, 53 children and four other people whose ages have not been confirmed. One man died.