Has St. Louis E. coli Outbreak Spread Across State Lines?
There are 25 confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning in the St. Louis outbreak associated with area salad bars, but other cases are under investigation including one in St. Clair County, Illinois.
State and local health officials in Illinois are awaiting results from laboratory testing on a case of shiga toxin producing E. coli to determine if it is linked to those in the St. Louis outbreak. St Clair county is one of a handful of Illinois counties that are part of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Missouri health officials have been working with the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the source and scope of the outbreak that began the first week of October.
Most of those who became ill reported eating food from a Schnucks salad bar, but because none of the samples taken from Schnucks locations has been positive for E. coli, the investigation has broadened to include, distributors and suppliers to grocery stores in the St. Louis area.
Health officials urge anyone who became ill after eating food from a salad bar in the St. Louis area to seek medical attention. Anyone with legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
