Based on this investigation, as of 5pm EST, July 14, 2008, 44 confirmed cases have been linked both epidemiologically and by molecular fingerprinting to this outbreak.
The number of cases in each state are as follows: Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20), New York (1), and Ohio (21). Their illnesses began between May 30 and June 24, 2008. Twenty-one ill persons have been hospitalized. One patient has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths linked to the outbreak have been reported. Twenty-five (57%) patients are female. Patients range in age from 4 to 78 years with a median age of 20 years.
State health and agriculture departments tested ground beef recovered from several patient residences that was purchased at Kroger® retail stores in Michigan and Ohio. Molecular fingerprinting testing conducted by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Health and Agriculture Laboratories, in collaboration with PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from these ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157.
Nebraska Beef, Ltd., recently expanded a recall of its beef amid reports that its production practices might have been inadequate for controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7, as the number of patients sickened in a two-state outbreak rose to 41.
On Jul 3 the Omaha company expanded its Jun 30 recall to include 5.3 million pounds of its beef, including all trim and other products intended for use in ground beef, produced between May 16 and Jun 26, according to a press release from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The company's previous recall applied only to 531,707 pounds of trim, chuck, and other components.
According to trace-back investigation findings, Nebraska Beef supplied beef to certain Kroger grocery stores in Michigan and Ohio. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said ongoing epidemiologic and trace-back investigation findings prompted the expanded recall.
According to a previous FSIS statement, ground beef samples from two federally inspected establishments supplied by Nebraska Beef and multiple samples of Kroger ground beef from patients' homes were contaminated with E coli matching the outbreak strain
The expanded recall by Nebraska beef prompted the Kroger Co. to expand its own ground beef recall on Jul 3. Previously Kroger had recalled ground beef from stores in Michigan and parts of Ohio with sell-by dates between May 21 and Jun 8. The company didn't specify how much ground beef was subject to either recall.
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