Health departments were investigating four new cases of E. coli on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in central Ohio to 11.
Three cases were reported by the Columbus Health Department, while the Franklin County Board of Health reported a fourth case involving a 14-year-old girl, 10TV’s Angela An reported.
The Columbus Health Department and Franklin County Board of Health were in contact with the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to see if the pattern was similar to any others in the country.
The cases were called an outbreak because at least three of the seven cases of E. coli were genetically linked through DNA testing, An reported.
Last week, seven cases of E. coli were confirmed though health departments in three counties.
Franklin and Fairfield counties reported three cases each, while a 55-year-old woman in Delaware County was released from a hospital after dealing with complications from E. coli, 10TV News reported.
Health officials said they were conducting more interviews to try and determine what the cases have in common.
“We’re going back to these cases for a second, more in-depth interview,” said Columbus Health Department Medical Director, Dr. Mysheika LeMaile-Williams. “We’re asking them a host of questions to try to determine common sources that might not have been picked up in the original questionnaire.”
Symptoms of E. coli illness include abdominal pain and diarrhea. In severe cases, respiratory
illness and pneumonia can occur
.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
Previous Stories:
June 12, 2008:
Another E. Coli Case Confirmed
June 11, 2008:
6 E. Coli Cases Under Investigation
