Idaho E. coli Cases Increase in June
The Department of Health and Welfare has announced a rise in E. coli O157:H7 cases in Idaho. During the month of May, five cases of E. coli O157:H7 were reported, but in June, 12 cases have already been reported to the state health department, with others under investigation. Last year, 55 cases of E. coli O157:H7 were reported in Idaho.
“We are seeing clusters of illness in families and communities across southern Idaho”, said Dr. Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist. “In some cases, it is unclear how the disease has spread, but in some cases, exposure to potentially contaminated food or water may be to blame.”
Summer often brings a rise in foodborne and waterborne illness. Several beaches throughout the U.S. are closed each year due to E. coli levels in the water. Foodborne transmission of E. coli is generally higher in the summer and in recent years has hit a peak in late summer. This year, with so many outbreaks linked to ground beef in the last several weeks, the peak may be early summer.
