Update: 5 confirmed, 2 probable E. coli cases.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling and Jordan Cuddemi of the New Hampshire Valley News report that Vermont Health officials are investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 cases and warning physicians to watch for more cases.
According to Hongoltz-Hetling, Vermont health officials are warning clinicians to be on the lookout for signs of E. coli, after at least five Vermont residents contracted infections caused by the food-borne bacteria. The locations of the five laboratory-confirmed cases, and a sixth case listed as “probable,” were not divulged by the Vermont Department of Health, which asked doctors to report instances of patients with diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting to state health officials immediately.
According to Cuddemi, a South Royalton, Vermont restaurant voluntarily closed for several days recently and switched food vendors after being contacted by state officials who are investigating an E. coli “cluster” that has sickened at least five people.
Jason Merrill, executive chef at Worthy Burger, said the Vermont Department of Health approached the restaurant’s leadership team last week and asked them to consider changing some of their food vendors out of precaution.