All News / Outbreaks /

More Victims in Ohio E. coli Outbreak Linked to Picnic

Food Safety News

July 23, 2012

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 thought to have originated at a picnic in Germantown, Ohio has expanded from 68 victims to 75, according to the local health department. The number of people hospitalized remained steady at 14 since the last report.

Three of those hospitalized, including a 4-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy and a 73-year-old-man, remain in the hospital with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli infection that leads to kidney failure and can be fatal.

"We're hopeful that all three may still make it," said Bill Wharton, a spokesperson for Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County, according to Dayton Daily News.

Stool samples from 18 of the victims have confirmed them to be part of the outbreak.

The picnic was a customer appreciation event at Neff's Lawn Care in Georgetown, and was attended by approximately 300 people. Some food was provided by the company; other dishes were brought by guests.

The exact source of the contamination remains unclear at this time. Health officials continue to investigate.

Symptoms of E. coli infection generally appear 3-4 days after exposure to the bacteria and include abdominal craps, diarrhea that can sometimes be watery or bloody, nausea and vomiting.

If you think you may have contracted an E. coli infection, contact your healthcare provider. Those who became ill after attending Neff's Lawn Care customer appreciation picnic are urged to contact the public health department at

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