Spinach-E. coli Outbreak: Two Maryland Children
State health officials have confirmed that two more Maryland children were sickened by the spinach-linked strain of E. coli that has sickened at least 200 people. Unlike other cases associated with the outbreak, however, these Maryland children may not have eaten spinach. According to a story on Southern Maryland Online, "In both cases the parents said the children did not eat spinach."
E. coli is often transmitted from person to person by the oral-fecal route, meaning contaminated feces get into a person's mouth. This can happen when a person with an E. coli infection does not wash his or her hands well after going to the bathroom. If any feces left on the hands gets onto toys, door handles, food or anything else and someone else eats, touches, licks or teethes on the contaminated item, that person may get an E. coli infection also. This often happens in families and daycare centers.
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Source: Emily Haile, More Maryland children linked to E. coli outbreak, Southern Maryland Online, October 24, 2006.