Screen Shot 2012-02-15 at 12.00.01 PM.pngThe CDC just reports a total of 12 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli STEC O26 have been reported from 5 states.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Iowa (5), Missouri (3), Kansas (2), Arkansas (1), and Wisconsin (1).

Two ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Preliminary results of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate eating raw clover sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants is the likely cause of this outbreak.

Jimmy John’s sprouts have been linked to earlier E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks.