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E. coli outbreaks in Maine, Illinois, Indiana

The Maine Centers for Disease Control is investigating six cases of E. coli infection, and is working to determine the source of a potential outbreak, according to a story posted on the Bangor Daily News website. Four of the six cases in Kennebec, Androscoggin, Lincoln and Franklin counties have been confirmed positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 by the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, state epidemiologist Dr. Kathleen F. Gensheimer confirmed Friday.

Two other cases are pending and one other suspected case is under investigation, according to the health advisory issued by the CDC. Those afflicted, including one who was hospitalized, had bloody diarrhea, one of the common symptoms.

Gensheimer said Friday that two of the three cases are unrelated, a fact revealed through genetic testing. No place, event or food has been identified as a link in the investigation, she said.

Elsewhere, an E. coli outbreak has been traced to a restaurant, according to WAND TV.com. The El Rancherito restaurant in Effingham, Illinois, has been identified as the source of an E. coli outbreak that has resulted in at least six confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 among customers who ate at the El Rancherito restaurant in Effingham between September 11th and September 13th.

The health department says it has six confirmed cases of E. coli 0157. They are all linked to eating at El Rancherito restaurant in Effingham at I-57 and I-70. The health department says the restaurant is cooperating and has been closed since Thursday.

The people affected ate there between September 11th and the 13th. Their illnesses started between the 14th and 17th. There is no word on their conditions.

An investigation into two E. coli-infected students from Galena Elementary School in Indiana is ongoing. The News and Tribune reported that a second has been hospitalized with similar symptoms, school officials confirmed Friday afternoon.

“We don’t know the details, but we can say that the health department is investigating one confirmed and one suspected of E. coli,” said Bill Briscoe, assistant superintendent of operations and administration for the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.

Both students, who were not identified, were hospitalized on Thursday. The Floyd County Department of Health confirmed in a news release at least one case of E. coli on Friday morning and said it suspected the other, but didn’t reveal further details.

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