Possible E. coli outbreak in Snohomish County

E. coli bacteria by Janice Haney Carr/CDC

Public health officials in Snohomish County are investigating the cases of 14 county residents who may have contracted E. coli infections.

So far, health officials have not been able to confirm the illnesses are due to the bacteria, but laboratory testing is underway.

E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. Some strains, however, can cause illness. One E. coli strain, for example, is a common cause of traveler’s diarrhea.

But another, more dangerous strain—E. coli O157:H7—can cause bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and death. Children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to these complications.

E. coli can be spread by eating contaminated food or swimming in contaminated water. Outbreaks have also been linked to daycare centers and petting zoos. 

To avoid infection, health officials recommend cooking meat well, washing fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them, avoiding unpasteurized milk and juices, and hand washing whenever there has been contact with human or animal feces.

“Keeping these germs out of your mouth is the key to not getting sick,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, director of Snohomish Health District. “Wash your hands before you eat, after going to the bathroom, and after changing a baby’s diaper.”

The press release from the Snohomish Health District is below as are links to additional resources.

Snohomish Health District Press Release:

Snohomish Health District investigating 14 cases of suspected E. coli in SnoCo

No common source identified yet – cases linked only by timing

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Communicable disease investigators at local public health in Snohomish County are working to discover the source of illness among 14 county residents who may have been sick with E. coli infection. The cases began to emerge last week. The 14 people became ill between Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. One person was hospitalized for one day, but now is recovering at home.

Laboratory tests are in process, but as of Monday, Oct. 20, cases remain unconfirmed as E. coli by the Washington State Public Health Laboratories.

Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Goldbaum, director of Snohomish Health District, alerted Snohomish County health care providers on Oct. 17 to be on the watch for patients who showed symptoms of E. coli illness, and to request that they take specimens for lab testing.

“Public health in Snohomish County is working to solve this disease puzzle,” said Dr. Goldbaum. “No single source is jumping out at us from the preliminary investigation. However, we learn more with each interview and each lab test.”

Outbreaks historically have been associated with undercooked hamburger, raw milk consumption, lake swimming, petting zoos, and day care centers. In Snohomish County, the average number of E. coli cases ranges between 16 and 20 per year.

“Keeping these germs out of your mouth is the key to not getting sick,” said Dr. Goldbaum. “Wash your hands before you eat, after going to the bathroom, and after changing a baby’s diaper.”

Symptoms include bloody diarrhea and stomach cramping with little or no fever. People who experience these symptoms should contact their health care provider. Some people could develop a more serious condition that could cause kidney failure or even death. Young children and the elderly are at increased risk of these complications.

You can take simple steps to reduce the risk of E. coli infection: 

1. Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Make sure children also wash their hands well. 
    
2. Wash hands well before and after preparing food, especially after handling raw meat.
    
3. Wash hands thoroughly after handling animals or pets and their waste.
    
4. Cook all meat, especially ground beef, thoroughly. Cook ground beef to 155 degrees. Make certain that cooked meat is gray or brown (not pink).
    
5. Clean all utensils and surfaces after contact with raw meat.
    
6. Use only pasteurized milk and milk products.
    
7. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
    
8. Keep infected children away from other children and the elderly.
    
9. Do not drink untreated water.

To learn more:

• Visit the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s webpage on E. coli: http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli
• Visit CDC’s page on Healthy Pets that has information about animal exposure to E. coli: http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/ecoli.htm
• Visit the information page on E. coli O:157 on the Public Health – Seattle & King County website where they have information in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Somalian and Vietnamese.

Tags: Diarrhea, E. coli, Snohomish County

Category: Digestive System, Infections, Public Health