Atlanta, GA–CDC and state and federal public health and regulatory officials are working to identify the food source of a newly identified multistate outbreak of coli O157:H7 infections.
16 illnesses have been reported from 5 states: Arkansas (6), New York (1), Oklahoma (5), Virginia (2), and Washington (2).
Many of the illnesses have been severe. Among 12 people with information available, 9 have been hospitalized. Three people developed kidney failure. One death has been reported from Washington.
The strain causing this outbreak has previously caused other illnesses linked to a variety of contaminated foods and water, including romaine lettuce and recreational water.
Public health officials are interviewing sick people to find out what they ate the week before their illness started.
