E Coli Outbreak In East Tennessee
At least eight people have been treated at hospitals in East Tennessee so far this month for E.coli infections.
Dr. David Kirschke, medical director of the Northeast Regional Health Office in Johnson City, says seven of the cases are from the same strain of bacteria, but a common cause has not been found, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel.
Kirschke says some of the patients ate improperly cooked meat, but others contracted the bacteria while swimming in untreated water. He says the department is treating the cases as an outbreak, interviewing people who became ill from E. coli to learn the likely causes of infection.
The department urges thoroughly cooking meat and carefully washing all fruits and vegetables.
The cases have all been reported since June 1.
