OK State Dept. Of Health Investigates E. coli Outbreak

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Oklahoma E. Coli Outbreak Investigated

April 4, 2014 by Linda Larsen

Dr. Lauri Smithee, Acute Disease Service Director of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, spoke to Food Poisoning Bulletin and confirmed that an E. coli outbreak is associated with the Oklahoma Youth Expo held at the Oklahoma state fairgrounds in March 2014. Twelve people are sick, in various stages of confirmation. Four people have been confirmed ill with E. coli infections through lab tests.




Two children are sick with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and are hospitalized. One is two years old; the other is eight.
The investigation is still broad. Initial cases were reported following a livestock show, but more recent patients said they have had animal contact, but not at that particular show. Right now investigators are concentrating on case control studies and PFGE matches to see if contact with livestock was the cause of the illnesses, or if food or something else made people sick.

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     News 9

OK State Dept. Of Health Investigates E. coli Outbreak

Posted: Apr 03, 2014 5:55 PM CST Updated: Apr 03, 2014 5:55 PM CST

By Michael Konopasek, News 9 - bio | email

One of the patients, Connor Sneary, is fighting hard at OU Children's Hospital, according to family friends.

OKLAHOMA CITY -

State health officials in Oklahoma are investigating a spike in a deadly strain of E. coli. At least a dozen people, who have attended agricultural events around the state, were hospitalized as of late Thursday, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Health professionals say they are still in the early stages of their investigation. As of late Thursday, officials had not located a source. One of the patients, Connor Sneary, is fighting hard at OU Children's Hospital, according to family friends.
"He's still in ICU in critical condition," said friend Tina Baker who has been in contact with Connor's mother.
Connor has a form of E. coli that the family believes may have been contracted at an agricultural event at the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds. Investigators say that is a possibility.
"It does appear to be clustered in groups of people that have attended various agricultural events," said state health official Lauri Smithee, Ph.D.

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