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Vermont E. coli Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef Served at Restaurants

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Eight Vermont E. coli O157:H7 cases have been linked to ground beef served at three Vermont restaurants, according to the Vermont Department of Health. These eight confirmed cases — including a child who was hospitalized, but has been released — had E. coli 0157:H7 with an exact DNA match confirmed by the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory. An additional E. coli O157:H7 case has been confirmed and another case is suspected. Most of the people sickened lived in Chittenden County.

“Our laboratory results tell us that each person became ill from the same source,” said Deputy State Epidemiologist Susan Schoenfeld. “And our epidemiology investigation has found that source to be ground beef that was contaminated before it was distributed to, prepared, and served at a few restaurants in Vermont.” All of the three Vermont restaurants involved in this outbreak got their ground beef from the same distributor.

Our law firm is representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to restaurants, including victims who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening illness that is usually caused by E. coli O157:H7 infections. HUS can lead to kidney failure and damage to the pancreas, lungs, brain and heart.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on October 16, 2008 (boomark / email).