Minnesota Department of Health

News Release

December 13, 2006

Contact information

UPDATE on E. Coli infections

Minnesota E. coli cases match those in Iowa; distinct from cases in Northeast U.S.

Minnesota health officials have confirmed today that five cases of E. coli O157 infection in people who ate at Taco John’s restaurants in Albert Lea and Austin share the same genetic fingerprint as cases from a similar outbreak in Iowa.

“This is a strong indication that we are dealing with a common food source,” said Kirk Smith, supervisor of foodborne disease investigations at the Minnesota Department of Health. “Right now, our epidemiological evidence points to lettuce as the most likely source for the E. coli, but we are continuing to investigate and to work with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Iowa officials to determine a source more exactly.”

Minnesota now has 27 cases of E. coli infection associated with the outbreak: 5 cases confirmed in the MDH Public Health Laboratory, 1 case that is a presumptive positive, and 21 probable cases that are still being investigated. The cases are almost evenly divided between those who ate meals at Taco John’s restaurant in Albert Lea and those who ate at the Austin restaurant.

The DNA fingerprints of the Minnesota and Iowa cases do not match those of cases involved in the outbreak in the Northeast U.S. associated with Taco Bell restaurants.

One Minnesota case has been hospitalized with complications from E. coli infection.

-MDH-

For more information, contact:

Doug Schultz
MDH Communications
(651) 201-4993

Kirk Smith
Supervisor, Foodborne Illness Unit
(651) 201-5414

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