A type of E. coli bacteria has been found in 10 patients who were among dozens sickened by a severe illness outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma, health officials said Wednesday.
The outbreak already is responsible for one death, 26-year-old Chad Ingle, who worked at RCB Bank in Pryor. At least 41 people have been hospitalized, including several young children who needed dialysis due to kidney failure.
State health officials plan to send their laboratory specimens to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further analysis.
Those who were sickened include residents from Bixby, Pryor, Sand Springs, Locust Grove, Broken Arrow, Peggs, Tulsa and McAlester.
Health officials said many of those who became sick ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, a community of about 1,500 located 50 miles east of Tulsa.
The health department reported that the illnesses are a very severe and bloody diarrhea, with symptoms also including vomiting and severe abdominal cramping.
The Locust Grove eatery normally is closed on Mondays and voluntarily closed Tuesday and Wednesday as the investigation continues, health officials said.
Health officials say there are several ways disease-causing E. coli bacteria can be spread, including undercooked meat or cross-contamination of other foods, such as salad, fruits or vegetables, by a food handler or contaminated kitchen utensils.
They had earlier said E. coli was suspected but had not been confirmed in the cases.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
