--- title: "E. coli outbreak linked to Opelika, Alabama Water Park" date: 2011-06-25T09:49:46-07:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/e.-coli-outbreak-linked-to-opelika-alabama-water-park" section: Litigation Landing Pages --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) / # E. coli outbreak linked to Opelika, Alabama Water Park At least 13 people in Lee County, Alabama have been made ill in an *E. coli* O157:H7 outbreak traced to SportsPlex and Aquatic Center in Opelika Alabama. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health 13 children and two adults experienced intense gastrointestinal symptoms after swimming at the water park between June 4 and June 22. As of June 28, five children had tested positive for *E. coli* O157:H7 infections. Four children were initially hospitalized and two remain hospitalized at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham.# E. coli in Swimming Pools *E. coli* and other waterborne illnesses can be spread in recreational waters when swimmers swallow, breath in, or come into contact with contaminated water, mists, or aerosols. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people refrain from swimming when they have diarrhea and avoid swallowing water in common swimming areas as well as streams and lakes. Adults and children should always shower with soap before swimming. Parents of small children should do the following: take children on bathroom breaks often, do not change diapers at poolside, wash children with soap before swimming. ## E. coli poisoning Symptoms An *E. coli* O157:H7 infection typically results in gastrointestinal pain, cramping, vomiting, dehydration, and bloody diarrhea. Though symptoms often pass after a number of days, victims are encouraged to seek medical attention as the infection may lead to [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ](http://www.about-hus.com "Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ")(HUS), a sometimes fatal condition that results in acute kidney failure. ## Contact the Marler Clark E. coli Attorneys If you or a family member became ill with an *E. coli* infection after swimming and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, you can contact the Marler Clark *E. coli* attorneys for a free case evaluation. Marler Clark is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of *E. coli* outbreaks and other water and foodborne illnesses. The law firm has represented thousands of victims of *E. coli* and other water and foodborne illness infections, and is the only firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on water and foodborne illness litigation. You can fill out the contact form or call toll-free at 866-770-2032. There is no cost to you. ### E. coli outbreaks and recalls August 23, 2023 ###### [Listeria outbreak: Three die after drinking contaminated milkshakes](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/listeria-outbreak-three-die-after-drinking-contaminated-milkshakes) Three people have died, and three others are in hospital after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria in the US state of Washington, health officials … July 12, 2023 ###### [2011 Listeria outbreaks linked to cantaloupes: A history](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/2011-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-cantaloupes-a-history) A total of 148 persons infected with any of the five outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported to the CDC from 28 states. The … May 20, 2023 ###### [A quick look at the 2018 Hepatitis A outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/a-quick-look-at-the-2018-hepatitis-a-outbreak) Litigation proceeded in a Virginia state court against Tropical Smoothie and the strawberry supply chain. 134 people with Hepatitis A were reported from nine states … [1. View all ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) ## All E. coli Resources [###### E. coli Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) [###### E. coli O157:H7 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) [###### Non-O157 STEC ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) [###### Sources of E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) [###### Transmission of and Infection with E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) [###### Symptoms of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/symptoms-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Complications of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/complications-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Treatment for E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/treatment-for-e-coli-infection) [###### How is E. coli Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/how-is-e-coli-infection-diagnosed) [###### Preventing E. coli Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/preventing-e-coli-infection) [###### E. coli Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-outbreaks) [###### Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/real-life-impacts-of-e-coli-infection-and-hus) [###### E. coli Recalls ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-recalls) [###### References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)