by Dan Flynn | Jul 02, 2011
Fast action and some luck may have contained a rare outbreak of E. coli 026 to a handful of kitchen workers at Idaho's Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d' Alene.
Health officials suspect the infected were exposed to the O26 serotype of E. coli in their common living quarters, not in the camp's food service.
At this point only five workers who shared kitchen duties and sleeping quarters have tested positive for the Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) Type 1 pathogen. Four of the five were food handlers during the start up week of the camp from June 19 to 24.
As soon as they became ill, they were released from duty and allowed to return to their quarters where the five experienced abdominal cramping and diarrhea; one reported bloody diarrhea. Some experienced nausea as well. None experienced complications associated with this type of E.coli.
Continue reading, "E. coli O26 Infects Idaho Camp Roommates" at Food Safety News.