ap

Skip to content
Test results due this week on source of E. coli
Tuesday, April 28th 2026

Trending:

News

Test results due this week on source of E. coli

The E. coli strain in the recent outbreak can cause severe illness. <!--IPTC: 2006National Escherichia, Shigella, Vibrio Reference Unit at CDCUnder a magnification of 6836x, this colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a number of Gram-negative <i>Escherichia coli</i> bacteria of the strain O157:H7, which is one of hundreds of strains of this bacterium. Although most strains are harmless, and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin, which can cause severe illness.<p><i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982 during an outbreak of severe bloody diarrhea; the outbreak was traced to contaminated hamburgers. Since then, most infections have come from eating undercooked ground beef.<p>The combination of letters and numbers in the name of the bacterium refers to the specific markers found on its surface, which distinguishes it from other types of <i>E. coli</i>. See PHIL 8800 for a black and white version of this image.<i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 is an emerging cause of foodborne illness. An estimated 73,000 cases of infection, and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year. Infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Person-to-person contact in families and child care centers is also an important mode of transmission. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk, and after swimming in, or drinking sewage-contaminated water.<p>Consumers can prevent <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 infection by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and washing hands carefully. Because the organism lives in the intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms and during meat processing are being investigated.-->
The E. coli strain in the recent outbreak can cause severe illness. <!–IPTC: 2006National Escherichia, Shigella, Vibrio Reference Unit at CDCUnder a magnification of 6836x, this colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a number of Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria of the strain O157:H7, which is one of hundreds of strains of this bacterium. Although most strains are harmless, and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin, which can cause severe illness.E. coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982 during an outbreak of severe bloody diarrhea; the outbreak was traced to contaminated hamburgers. Since then, most infections have come from eating undercooked ground beef.The combination of letters and numbers in the name of the bacterium refers to the specific markers found on its surface, which distinguishes it from other types of E. coli. See PHIL 8800 for a black and white version of this image.Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an emerging cause of foodborne illness. An estimated 73,000 cases of infection, and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year. Infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Person-to-person contact in families and child care centers is also an important mode of transmission. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk, and after swimming in, or drinking sewage-contaminated water.Consumers can prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and washing hands carefully. Because the organism lives in the intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms and during meat processing are being investigated.–>
By | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

The results of tests that may pinpoint the source of the E. coli outbreak suspected of sickening 20 Front Range residents, including 19 children, are expected this week, the doctor leading the investigation said Friday.

The “working hypothesis” is that the E. coli infection may be linked to the National Western Stock Show because 16 of the children attended the annual event in Denver, said Dr. Chris Urbina, director of Denver Public Health.

As of Friday afternoon, no new cases had been reported, said Tony Encinias, spokesman for Denver Health Medical Center.

Urbina said doctors and researchers are attempting to track down the outbreak source that involves a serious strain of E. coli. Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post

RevContent Feed

More in News