Source of ’08 E.Coli Oubreak in Oklahoma May Never Be Known, Health Officials Say

We may never know the source of E. coli bacteria that sickened hundreds of people and killed one in northeastern Oklahoma last year, state health officials say.

An extensive investigation into the outbreak found that the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, about 50 miles east of Tulsa, likely spread the foodborne bacteria from August 15-24, 2008. Officials, however, do not believe that the bacteria actually originated at the restaurant. Food from the eatery that was tested did not turn up the bacteria, but officials said that may be because contaminated food already had been served to customers or thrown out.

The outbreak was the largest of its kind ever in the United States involving the rare strain of E. coli, called 0111. A total of 341 people reported being sickened by the bacteria, including 70 who were hospitalized and one who died. Several young children required dialysis after being sickened.

Only 10 outbreaks involving E. coli O111 have been reported before the Oklahoma outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

E. coli bacteria may cause a severe form of food poisoning resulting in gastrointestinal infection, urinary tract infection, and neonatal meningitis.

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