Although information is limited, TV 9 News KCRG has reported that several cases of E. coli infection have been reported in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Health Department has noted that the number of cases is fewer than 10.
The Health Department has notified the Clear Creek Amana Community School District that a person in the Middle Amana Elementary School has been diagnosed with infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli O157:H7. Families have been advised to contact their healthcare provider in the event that their child develops diarrhea and to let the provider know that there was a confirmed case of E. coli O157:H7 at school.
To help protect against infection, the Iowa Health Department suggests that people do the following:
- If you have chronic diarrhea, stay home from work and/or school.
- Always wash your hands [with soap and water] before and after handling food and animals, and always after using the bathroom.
- Be sure to cook ground meat thoroughly.
For more food safety information, please see Food Safety and Foodborne Pathogens at our site www.foodpoisoning.com. To learn more about E. coli food poisoning and its symptoms, please see About E. coli and E. coli Symptoms.
