The Effingham County Health Department in Illinois is investigating at least six confirmed cases of E. coli O157, all linked to eating at El Rancherito restaurant in Effingham at I-57 and I-70. The health department says the restaurant is cooperating and has been closed since Thursday.

And in neighboring Indiana, two students have been confirmed with E. coli O157:H7 and several others are showing symptoms. Hundreds of elementary students were apparently sent home with warning letters on Friday.

One of Seattle attorney Bill Marler’s many blogs, http://www.about-ecoli.com/, has lots of background information on E. coli.