Over 70 inmates at the Jefferson County Jail in Colorado have been made ill by exposure to E. coli bacteria. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli has been identified in tested samples, but the specific strain of E. coli has not yet been determined.
The first inmates became ill with intestinal symptoms on June 6. A total of nine inmates were sent to the hospital, and one is still hospitalized. Thirty-seven inmates are still sick.
The source of the E. coli contamination has not been found, but officials with the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment are continuing to investigate. The food supplier to the jail, and kitchen workers there, are being questioned, and food is being tested as part of the investigation.
Symptoms of E. coli food poisoning may include abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea. The diarrhea may become bloody, and can lead to dehydration. Fever may or may not be present. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Symptoms usually resolve in 5-10 days.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks throughout the United States. If you or a loved one have been harmed by E. coli food poisoning, and you have a question about your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274 for a free case evaluation, or click on free case evaluation to submit your questions. For more information about E. coli, visit the pages of this blog “About E. coli “
