Nebraska Beef E. coli outbreak confirmed in seven states.

The number of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses associated with the Nebraska Beef Ltd. recall continues to grow,.
A total of seven states now reporting cases in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 49 confirmed cases now have been linked to the outbreak, with illnesses in Georgia (4), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20), New York (1), Ohio (21) and Utah (1). CDC said the illnesses began between May 27 and July 21. Of those afflicted, 27 have been hospitalized, and one patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome. No deaths have been reported.
The problem was discovered by FSIS through traceback investigations and ground beef samples collected from two federally inspected establishments positive for E. coli O157:H7, as well as multiple samples of Kroger brand ground beef positive for E. coli O157:H7, with matching pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns.
FSIS is continuing its investigation into any products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 or that are associated with illnesses and will take appropriate action when necessary. Kroger brand ground beef samples were collected by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health from patients in Michigan and Ohio. Nebraska Beef, Ltd., was identified as a common supplier to those stores in addition to two federally inspected establishments where FSIS obtained a positive ground beef sample that was matched to the outbreak strain identified in Michigan and Ohio.


The epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there is an association between the ground beef products and 35 illnesses reported in Michigan (17) and Ohio (18).


The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation and by their PFGE pattern, or DNA fingerprint, found in PulseNet, a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: USDA http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_022_2008_Release/index.asp
Aporte: Guillermo Figueroa