Seven ill with pathogenic E. coli in North Carolina

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According to WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina health officials are investigating a cluster of pathogenic E. coli illnesses centered in Wake County. North Carolina Division of Public Healthepartment spokeswoman Renee McCoy was cited as saying that at least six children and one adult have been confirmed with the illnesses.

Four people were hospitalized – two had been discharged and two were in intensive care Tuesday, McCoy said. The state is working with the Wake County Health Department to determine whether the cases are related.

They were still interviewing patients on Tuesday and awaiting the results of lab tests, which should be completed next week, McCoy said.

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About Ben Chapman

Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of less foodborne illness, his group designs, implements, and evaluates food safety strategies, messages, and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, Chapman investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben co-hosts a biweekly podcast called Food Safety Talk and tries to further engage folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and, maybe not surprisingly, Pinterest. Follow on Twitter @benjaminchapman.