All News / Outbreaks /

Officials probe Rowan E. coli outbreak

GREG LACOUR

Health officials in Cabarrus and Rowan counties are investigating an outbreak of E. coli bacteria infections among at least four people who ate late last month at a China Grove restaurant.

As of this morning, lab tests had confirmed the four cases, and nine more were considered probable cases and awaiting lab results. Several other possible cases are being investigated with the help of experts from the N.C. Division of Public Health and local hospitals, the Cabarrus Health Alliance said in a news release today.

Many of the people who have fallen ill ate at the Captain's Galley Restaurant, a seafood restaurant on South Main Street in China Grove between May 26 and 29, the release said. No illness has been reported from people who ate there after May 29, and officials have not found any obvious source of infection at the restaurant.

E. coli is a bacterium that in an infection targets the stomach and intestines, causing diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting or some combination. Victims are usually infected through contaminated food or water. Infections can be severe, especially in children and the elderly, and can progress to fatal kidney failure if advanced and severe enough.

Health officials encourage anyone who has eaten at the Captain's Galley since May 26 and developed symptoms of E. coli to see a doctor immediately. For more information, call the Cabarrus Health Alliance at 704-920-1208 or the Rowan County Health Department at 704-216-8777.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
E. coli Food Poisoning

What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so...

E. coli O157:H7

E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in...

Non-O157 STEC

Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least...

Sources of E. coli

Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are...

Transmission of and Infection with E. coli

While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database