E. coli Sickens Boone County, Missouri Residents
As the St. Louis E. coli outbreak linked to Schnucks and other retailers continues to grow, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting 3 confirmed and 2 suspected cases of E. coli infection, two of which required hospitalization. The first case was reported on October 26. All 5 of the people sickened required medical treatment, and two of them had to be hospitalized.
To date, the epidemiological investigation has not found a common link between the 5 people. E. coli outbreaks are generally caused by contaminated food; however, E. coli can also be transmitted by water and direct contact with contaminated animal and human feces. Because there are so many possible vehicles of transmission, it can be difficult to determine the initial cause of an outbreak.
