An outbreak of E. Coli in Flathead County has left one person dead and several others sick due to contaminated ground beef sold to several restaurants by a local distributor.
Multiple public health agencies are working together to investigate the outbreak and find the origin of the meat. Now that the sickness has been traced back to a single operator in the county, more work needs to be done to remove the contaminated beef from shelves.
Press Release
The information was first made public in July 24 by the Flathead County Health Department when they notified the public of an investigation taken y the county health department, the Montana health department and other local agencies.
At least 13 people have been harmed by the outbreak with moderate to severe symptoms stemming from an outbreak of E. coli in ground beef.
One Dead Due to Bad Beef
Just one person died due to the contaminated beef. The health department identified the person as female, over the age of 65 and not a local Montana resident.
To avoid anymore instances of sickness and death, authorities are working diligently to remove the contaminated items.
What Is E. Coli?
The bacteria known as E. coli or escherichia coli, is commonly found in raw vegetables or undercooked ground beef.
Healthy adults can recover quite quickly from the illness but young children and older adults have a more difficult time overcoming the bad bacteria.
Symptoms
The symptoms will begin around three to four days after the initial exposure and can include diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea and vomiting.
Aside from the direct symptoms, many people will have a hard time over coming this illness because of the dehydrating effects of the sickness.
Beef Sold to Restaurants
Luckily, the beef was not available on consumer shelves for purchase by the public. Instead, the contaminated items were sold to restaurants through a distributor.
The last known date of consumption was July 14 and most of the illnesses associated with the outbreak have been identified already.
How the Outbreak Was Discovered
When the hospital intakes patients suspected of being ill with E. coli of other food poisoning, they are required to alert local authorities to identify possible public health risks.
In this case, Montana DPHHS became involved with the Flathead health department after the first case was detected on July 10. Several other Flathead County residents were determined to be sick the same strain.
Health Department Sends Condolences
Jennifer Rankosky, the health officer for the Flathead-City County Health Department, issued a statement to the family of the woman who died from the outbreak.
“We send our condolences to all family and friends that have been affected by this death. Our staff continue to work through this investigation and were able to identify a suspect source early to mitigate risks and prevent others from getting sick.”
Preventative Measures
One of the best ways to reduce exposure to E. coli and other harmful bacteria present in raw meat is to ensure that it has been cooked thoroughly.
For both beef and pork, the internal temperature should be cooked to an even 160 degrees Fahrenheit. As well, officials urge residents to avoid eating raw meat at all times.
Washing Hands Is More Important Than Ever
Another simple trick to remove bad bacteria from food is to ensure that you are washing your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or petting an animal.
All people and animals have some strains of E. coli living in their gut and intestines, however, it can easily become spread with poor hygiene habits.
Most Outbreaks Are Tracked Quickly
In the past 10 years, there have been six deadly outbreaks of E. coli that has caught the attention of state authorities.
Two of the six outbreaks were linked to multi-state outbreaks initiated from grocery store items. Agencies usually have an easy time locating the culprit in these cases thanks to batch codes and detailed shipment descriptions.
Keep Up to Date On Food Poisoning News
Another way to avoid eating contaminated food is to ensure that you are kept up to date on your local news.
Usually, when a person becomes ill from a grocery store or restaurant item, it becomes reported on quite quickly.
