Vials of E. coli found in Arkansas apartment

Vials of E. coli bacteria found in the refrigerator of a Jonesboro apartment have been safely removed, authorities told Associated Press.

A maintenance man cleaning out the unit at the Willow Creek Apartments on Friday found 25 vials marked E. coli in a foam box in a refrigerator, officials said. The maintenance man notified the facilities manager, who then called Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An Arkansas National Guard hazardous material crew spent most of Friday afternoon and night securing the bacteria and removing it from the apartment, Fire Battalion Chief Marty Hamrick told the Jonesboro Sun for a story in Sunday’s editions. The vials were of medical-grade quality but there wasn’t enough danger for officials to evacuate the complex, Hamrick said.
As a precaution, however, firefighters washed their boots and equipment, he said.

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About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time