Three people in Boone County have confirmed cases of E. coli infection, and public health officials are awaiting results of lab tests on two other patients to confirm whether they also have the bacteria.

“We are doing thorough food-borne investigations as we always do,” said Geni Alexander, spokeswoman for the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. She said there was no evidence that a particular location or food was linked to the confirmed and “suspect” cases.

“All five sought medical care,” Alexander said. “Two of the five cases required hospitalization.”