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Rare E. coli strain uncovered in Eastern Iowa children

Three Eastern Iowa children have recovered from a rare strain of E. coli, health officials said Monday.

Kevin Teale, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said the three were not hospitalized from the strain, called enterohemorrhagic E. coli O26. He would not identify where the children – all age 5 or under – live in Eastern Iowa. All were in the same county.

Possible sources of infection, including splash pads, wading pools and contact with farm kittens, were identified in two cases, but no link was established with the third case. Teale said two of the children had visited both private and municipal pools.

Lab work performed at University Hygienic Laboratory found that all three strains matched, he said.

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