North Carolina state health officials have announced that they now consider this year’s state fair as the “probable” source of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infection that now includes 26 people.  According to the Division of Health and Human Services press release:

Current patient interview information shows that 23 of the 26 persons

e coli.jpgWake County health officials are currently investigating an apparent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.  According to a report, health officials stated that eight of nine cases being investigated “involve people who attended the North Carolina State Fair.”

The investigation is ongoing, and there does not appear to be a definite time-table for completion. 

nebraska.jpgNebraska is one of 14 states currently listed by the CDC as having residents that have been sickened with Listeria by cantaloupe from Jensen Farms and Frontera Produce.  The current numbers, likely to grow nationwide, show 4 illnesses in Nebraska as part of the outbreak.

Nebraksa residents have suffered in food-poisoning outbreaks in the past.  These

The Washington State Department of Health reports that 22 people have recently been sickened by Vibrio Parahaemolyticus bacteria after eating raw oysters.  18 vibriosis illnesses have been linked to commercial operations and four illnesses to recreational harvesting in Puget Sound and on the Washington coast.

Cooking shellfish thoroughly will prevent vibriosis illness and is always a