Food illness climbs in S. Idaho
Monday, July 2, 2007 12:30 PM PDT
BOISE (AP) — State officials are warning southern Idaho residents about a rise in cases of E. coli, a bacteria that is the top cause of foodborne illness.
Officials said 12 cases were reported in June, up from five the previous month.
‘‘We are seeing clusters of illness in families and communities across southern Idaho,’’ Dr. Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist, told the Idaho Press-Tribune. ‘‘In some cases, it is unclear how the disease has spread, but in some cases, exposure to potentially contaminated food or water may be to blame.’’
Last year, 55 cases were reported in Idaho. An estimated 73,000 cases and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year because of E. coli, based on 1999 estimates. People infected with E. coli can experience bloody diarrhea.
The most common way of becoming infected, officials said, is eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef.
But contaminated bean sprouts and fresh leafy vegetables have also made people sick.
Hahn said the chances of getting E. coli can be reduced by cooking ground beef thoroughly, washing fruits and vegetables under running water, or removing the outer layers of leafy vegetables.
Also, people should avoid swallowing water while swimming in pools or playing in fountains. Washing hands will also help reduce the spread of E. coli, officials said.
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