Outbreaks
Neff's Lawn Care Picnic E. coli Outbreak
An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was responsible for at least 79 E. coli cases in the Germantown, Ohio area, including 14 hospitalizations, in July of 2012. Three people, a four-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, and a 73 year-old man, were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome. The 73-year-old man died as a result of his E. coli infection and HUS after 3 weeks of illness.The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was linked to food consumed at a July 3, 2012 customer appreciation picnic held at Neff's Lawn Care at 9400 Ekhart Road in Germantown, Ohio. It is estimated that between 200-300 people ate at the picnic.
Public Health Officials of Dayton & Montgomery County announced August 24, 2012 that following an intensive investigation into the July outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Germantown, they were unable to determine the cause of the outbreak. The investigation involved looking into where the foods at the event originated, how food was stored, handled, and maintained prior to and during the event as well as in-depth interviews with 117 individuals who attended the event.
Because the investigation of the outbreak began on July 9, when the first reports of illness occurred, there were no food items left for examination. The food at the event was provided by the host and by the 300 individuals who brought carry-in foods. It was not possible to know with certainty the actual conditions and temperatures of food preparation and handling at the event or in the homes of those who brought carry-in items.
In rare cases E. coli O157:H7 may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of acute kidney failure in children.
The Marler Clark E. coli attorneys investigated the Germantown E. coli outbreak.
