Since mid-2007, 33,000,000 pounds of hamburger has been recalled, according to the Des Moines Register. There have been hundreds of illnesses and several reported deaths.
There were six cases of E. coli reported in Polk County in October, according to the Polk County Health Department, which officials said is a typical number.
During the month, a 16-month-old girl and a 17-month-old boy who attended the same Urbandale child care center were infected with E. coli. In July, the Iowa Department of Public Health issued a warning after three children developed illnesses linked to a rare strain of E. coli. The children, all 5 years and younger, were not hospitalized. Two of the three children visited private and municipal pools before getting sick, health department officials said at the time.