Personal Injury Law

Massachusetts, Quebec and Other States E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak - Beef Products Suspected - Again

By Bill Marler, Esq.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is investigating six cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Massachusetts residents that appear to be caused by the same strain of the bacteria found in patients from several other states.

A source of contamination has not been identified; however the cluster of illnesses may be linked to the consumption of beef products. State health officials, along with investigators from USDA, worked through the weekend to try and identify a possible source of contamination. The investigation is focused on ground beef, and testing of samples collected from several stores will be conducted this week.  Based on the preliminary findings, DPH is reminding the public to consume only fully cooked ground beef.

The Massachusetts cases range in age from three to 60 years. They include residents of Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex counties. They reported becoming ill between July 10th and 16th. At least five of the cases were hospitalized. These cases may be linked to 20 other cases in several states and Quebec that were caused by the same strain of E. coli.

The Massachusetts cases were linked by DNA testing and by comparing those results to results from others around the country through a federal foodborne illness surveillance program called PulseNet.

Full post as published by Marler Blog on August 04, 2008 (boomark / email).