missouriecoli.jpgMissouri is no stranger to E. coli O157:H7.  Strong public health surveillance and investigation has helped to identify multiple E. coli outbreaks in the last decade and a half, not least of which the Schnuck’s E. coli outbreak, yesterday linked to romaine lettuce from a California farm, which has sickened at least 60 people in 10 states across the country.  37 of those who are ill in the Schnucks lettuce E. coli outbreak are from Missouri.

Here are some of the other Missouri E. coli outbreaks over the years, in which Marler Clark represented people who suffered severe foodpoisoning injuries.  This list is courtesy of www.outbreakdatabase.com:

Thanksgiving Private Residence E. coli Outbreak (2010):  A Thanksgiving family gathering, held in a private home, in Jasper County, Missouri, was blamed for an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. As of December 13, the food vehicle had not been determined.  The outbreak resulted in the death of one victim. 

Shawn McNally’s Class Act Family Fitness Center Well Water 2010:  At least 14 people became ill after drinking water at Shawn McNally’s Class Act Family Fitness Center, near Jackson, Missouri. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of E. coli in samples taken from a drinking fountain, a faucet, and directly from well water. The water supply for the sports complex was a private well. The water may have become contaminated from recent storm runoff.

Herb Depot and Autumn Olive Farm Unpasteurized (Raw) Goat Milk 2008:  A child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome after consuming raw goat’s milk that had been purchased at a local store, the Herb Depot. Another child was identified to have E.coli O157:H7; this child’s family reported consuming milk that had been purchased from the same store. The investigation found that the milk had been produced by Autumn Olive Farm. The strain of E.coli found in this outbreak was unique and shared by three laboratory confirmed cases.

Totino’s frozen pizza E. coli O157:H7 outbreak (2007):  At least 21 people were sickened by E. coli O157:H7 after eating Totino’s or Jeno’s brand pizzas produced by General Mills in Fall 2007.  Outbreak victims were from Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.  General Mills initiated a broad recall of the contaminated products after they were linked to E. coli illnesses in the outbreak.  

Kids Korner Daycare E. coli Outbreak 2004:  Marler Clark represented the family of a two-year-old boy and his eight-month-old sister who both attended Kids’ Korner and became ill with E. coli infections. The two-year-old boy developed HUS and was hospitalized for nearly three weeks. He endured a full week of dialysis, seven transfusions, three surgeries, and a severe case of pancreatitis. Many other children were also sickened in the outbreak, and several of them developed HUS. 

Cornstalk ’99 Family and Friends Feeding Frenzy Beef 1999:  A confirmed outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was associated with eating beef at an event held in the pasture of a home in Petersburg, Illinois. The event was held over the Labor Day weekend. The beef served at the September 4th party was laboratory confirmed as the vehicle of infection and had been grow and slaughtered on the property. Cow manure samples were also found to be contaminated with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. As many as 1800 people attended the event from several states.

Of course, E. coli is not the only dangerous bug to have hit Missouri residents hard.  Here are a few Salmonella outbreaks that have occurred over the years in Missouri, or have sickened Missouri residents: