CDC assisting Michigan and Ohio with E. coli O157 outbreak with unknown food source
Aug. 18, 2022
A CDC investigation notice regarding a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections is now live.
Key points:
- 29 people infected with the outbreak strain of coli O157 have been reported from 2 states: Michigan (15) and Ohio (14). Nine hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.
- A food has not yet been identified as the source and this investigation is ongoing.
- The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported by CDC. Michigan and Ohio have both reported large increases in the number of coli infections in their states. Public health officials are working to determine how many of these infections are linked to the outbreak.
- CDC is using the PulseNet system to identify and confirm illnesses that are part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).
- WGS from the illnesses in PulseNet showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
- Some of the illnesses reported in Michigan and Ohio have not yet been reported to the PulseNet system, but investigators are working quickly to add them to PulseNet to determine if they may be part of this outbreak. The number of illnesses reported by CDC is expected to increase.
- State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick.
- If a food item is identified, investigators will issue advice for people and businesses.
