Mystery E. Coli Outbreak at Oklahoma Restaurant

E Coli Image via ecoliblog.com Mystery E. Coli Outbreak at Oklahoma Restaurant Health officials in Oklahoma released an April 9 report indicating an E. coli bacteria linked to hundreds of illnesses and one death may have come from a water well; but since no specimen of the bacteria was identified in the restaurant, officials are still uncertain how the bacteria made its way into the eating establishment, and how it continued to spread.

“According to the report, there were a total of 341 cases of people sickened by the bacteria; 70 were hospitalized and one died. Several young children required dialysis after being sickened.”

No signs on contamination were found from the food samples officials analyzed. It is possible, officials said, the contaminated food was thrown away.

“Clearly it was not a single food item making people sick,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said, “It will have to remain a mystery.”

After accepting certain specified guidelines, the Country Cottage restaurant, about an hour east of Tulsa, reopened.

Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma’s Attorney General, said “the Health Department ‘botched’ the probe and has suggested that tainted well water may have been to blame for the outbreak. He is pursuing a lawsuit against Arkansas poultry companies, alleging that chicken waste has polluted water supplies in the region.”