The Michigan Department of Community Health has issued a public health alert due to an outbreak of E. coli bacterial infections. The outbreak appears to be linked to ground beef sold at Kroger stores, the MDCH alert said.
The state has identified 15 cases of the food poisoning that are genetically linked. Ten of those cases have required hospitalization. Cases have been identified in Eaton, Macomb, Wastenaw, Saginaw, Genesee, Wayne and Oakland counties. In addition, E. coli cases in Ohio have been genetically linked to the Michigan outbreak.
Some kinds of E. coli cause disease by making a toxin called Shiga toxin. The bacteria that make these toxins are called “Shiga toxin-producing” E. coli, or STEC for short. The most commonly identified STEC in North America is E. coli O157:H7. The symptoms of STEC infections vary for each person, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38.5 degrees Celsius). Most people get better within five to seven days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.
“Our top priority at the Michigan Department of Community Health is to protect the public,” said Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH. “Now that it is summertime and many people are having cook-outs, I strongly urge our residents to thoroughly cook their hamburgers. We want to ensure that the public’s health and well-being is protected.”
State officials reported last week that there had been a three-fold increase of reported E. coli infections so far this June compared with June 2007.