According to AccessGeorgia.com, the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Stephens County, Georgia has grown to 11 confirmed cases linked to the BBQ Shack in Toccoa, Georgia.
“The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH), the North Health District, and the Stephens County Health Department continue to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections that occurred during early May,” said District 2 Public Health spokesman Dave Palmer.
Palmer said 10 of the cases were Georgia residents, while the other was a South Carolina resident.
Seven of those victims were hospitalized as a result of the infections, with five of those diagnosed with a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), he said.
“Ten of the 11 case-patients reported eating at the BBQ Shack in Toccoa during the weekend of May 2-4,” Palmer said. “No other common exposures were reported among case-patients.”