1 Dead, At Least 41 Hospitalized in Oklahoma E. Coli Outbreak
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
State health officials are confirming a type of E. coli bacteria has been found in 10 patients who were sickened by a severe illness in northeastern Oklahoma.
The outbreak killed 26-year-old Chad Ingle and at least 41 people have been hospitalized and several children are undergoing dialysis because of kidney failure.
Laboratory specimens will be sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further analysis.
Health officials say many who became sick ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove but the restaurant has not been pinpointed as the site of the outbreak.
The restaurant is normally closed on Mondays and voluntarily closed yesterday and today as the investigation continues.
The illnesses are a very severe and bloody diarrhea with symptoms also including vomiting and severe abdominal cramping.
