By James Andrews | July 10, 2012
At least 36 people have been sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after attending a customer appreciation picnic for Neff's Lawn Care in Germantown, Ohio on July 3, according to the Dayton & Montgomery County Healthy Department.
Nine people have been hospitalized, but none of them are in life-threatening condition, said health department spokesman Bill Wharton.
Those sickened have shown symptoms that include stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea, and five have tested positive for the same strain of E. coli.
Between 200 and 300 people attended the picnic. Wharton told Food Safety News that health officials expects more attendees to contact the department reporting illnesses.
The health department will continue to investigate the outbreak's cause by interviewing attendees and those who prepared the food.
Wharton recommended those who suspect they may have been sickened in this outbreak to seek medical attention.