Health departments were investigating four new cases of E. coli on Monday, bringing the totalnumber of cases in central Ohio to 11.
Three cases were reported by the Columbus Health Department, while the Franklin County Board ofHealth reported a fourth case involving a 14-year-old girl, 10TV’s Angela An reported.
The Columbus Health Department and Franklin County Board of Health were in contact with theCenters For Disease Control and Prevention to see if the pattern was similar to any others in thecountry.
The cases were called an outbreak because at least three of the seven cases of E. coli weregenetically linked through DNA testing, An reported.
Last week, seven cases of E. coli were confirmed though health departments in threecounties.
Franklin and Fairfield counties reported three cases each, while a 55-year-old woman in DelawareCounty was released from a hospital after dealing with complications from E. coli, 10TV Newsreported.
Health officials said they were conducting more interviews to try and determine what the caseshave in common.
“We’re going back to these cases for a second, more in-depth interview,” said Columbus HealthDepartment Medical Director, Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams. “We’re asking them a host of questionsto try to determine common sources that might not have been picked up in the originalquestionnaire.”
Symptoms of E. coli illness include abdominal pain and diarrhea. In severe cases, respiratoryillness and pneumonia can occur
.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
Previous Stories:
June 12, 2008: Another E. Coli Case Confirmed
June 11, 2008: 6 E. Coli Cases Under Investigation
