Public Health experts investigating local E. coli cases

Josephine County Public Health officials are investigating several local cases of E. coli. Experts are looking into the source of the infections and at this time do not believe the exposure is linked to any local business, park or recreational body of water.

E. coli is a common bacterium, though some strains can cause serious disease. These local cases are of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and other symptoms.

JCPH experts recommend the following steps to help prevent E. coli infections:

• Practice good overall hygiene with special attention to good handwashing.
• Wash your hands after touching animals or their environments.
• Keep what you eat and drink away from animals.
• Cook meats thoroughly. Prevent raw meat from contacting other food. Do this by washing hands, utensils, cutting boards and surfaces after use to prepare meat.
• Avoid consuming raw and unpasteurized dairy and juice products.
• Avoid school and childcare attendance, food handling and patient care if you are ill. People with diarrhea should not go to school or childcare, handle food or care for patients.

Most infected people get watery or bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps within one to 10 days of exposure to the bacteria. Most infected people get better on their own within five to seven days. However, some get a more severe illness that damages their kidneys. The illness can begin as the diarrhea is getting better. This is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly.

Call your health care provider if you think you or a family member might be ill with E. coli.

For more information, see cdc.gov/ecoli/about/kinds-of-ecoli.html.

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