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General Information: (from the CDC)
There are many strains of the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). Most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals.

Some kinds of E. coli cause disease by producing Shiga toxin. The bacteria that make these toxins are called "Shiga toxin-producing" E. coli (STEC). The most commonly found STEC in the United States is E. coli O157:H7.

The symptoms of STEC infections can include stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Some infections are mild, but others can be life-threatening.

The CDC estimates that 265,000 STEC infections occur each year in the United States. E. coli O157:H7 causes more than 36% of these infections.

People of all ages can be infected, but young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe symptoms.

The types of E. coli that can cause illness can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or people.

Prevention:
To avoid E. coli infections, experts advise to thoroughly cook meat, avoid unpasteurized dairy products and juices, avoid swallowing water while swimming, and wash hands regularly.

1998 - The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points program (HACCP) begins requiring meat processors to establish critical checkpoints in the plants to prevent pathogens from contaminating meat.
- Inspectors from the food-safety agency randomly test all facilities that grind meat products to make sure that the plants are complying with the HACCP program.

1999 - The USDA approves the irradiation process for meat. Irradiation is a process that uses beams of high-speed electrons to kill E. coli and other bacteria.

May 2000 - Huisken Meats of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, becomes the first meat processor to begin selling irradiated ground beef to retailers.

June 2009 - Epitopix LLC, a Minnesota-based veterinary pharmaceutical company, begins licensing a new vaccine for cows that reduces the transmission of E. coli between cows and humans.
Timeline of selected E. coli outbreaks in the United States:
The Jack in the Box incident leads the Bill Clinton administration to begin random testing for E. coli in ground beef.

The meatpacking industry sues the USDA to block the tests. The USDA wins the lawsuit.

At least 35 people become ill due to this meat contamination and one person dies.

The contaminated meat is shipped to at least 21 states.

Fall 2006 - At least 199 cases of E. coli infection occur in 26 states. Three people die and about 31 develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a dangerous complication that can lead to kidney failure.

The outbreak is most severe in Wisconsin, where 49 cases are reported to the FDA, and one death is confirmed.

The source of the outbreak is traced to fresh, bagged spinach from the California-based Natural Selection Foods company, which issues a voluntary recall of its spinach products.

October 2006 - The FDA matches the E. coli strain to one found on a cattle ranch located next to the spinach fields in Salinas Valley.

December 5, 2006 - Taco Bell announces the removal of green onions from Taco Bell restaurants nationwide in response to preliminary tests suggesting they are the cause of the E. coli outbreak.

November-December 2006 - As many as 67 people in five states are confirmed as having the strain of E. coli bacteria involved in the Taco Bell outbreak.

December 2006 - Kevin Teale of the Iowa Department of Health tells CNN that approximately 40 people have reported symptoms consistent with E. coli, and 11 to 15 people have been hospitalized in Iowa.

September 29, 2007 - Topps Meat expands its recall to 21.7 million pounds of ground beef products. The company announces a week later that it is going out of business.

October 26, 2007 - An update is released - 40 cases of E. coli identified. At least 21 people are hospitalized and two developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

November 23, 2010 - Bravo Farms recalls all its cheeses.

November 3, 2015 - Chipotle announces it has closed 43 restaurants in Oregon and Washington.

November 20, 2015 - The CDC reports 45 people in six states have been infected with E. coli. The six states are Washington, Oregon, California, Minnesota, New York and Ohio. The report says evidence suggests that "a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants...is a likely source of this outbreak."

December 4, 2015 - The CDC reports that an additional seven people have been infected. Three new states, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania have reported cases. This brings the total to 52 people infected in nine states.

December 21, 2015 - The CDC reports that an additional person has been infected in Pennsylvania, for a total of 53 people infected.

February 1, 2016 - The CDC says the Chipotle outbreaks "appear to be over."

March 3, 2017 - The CDC investigates the multi-state outbreak. "Epidemiologic evidence available at this time indicates that I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter is a likely source of this outbreak. SoyNut Butter is a nut-free substitute for peanut butter."

March 7, 2017 - The SoyNut Butter Company announces the voluntary recall of all varieties of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butters and I.M. Healthy Granola products.

March 30, 2017 - The US Food and Drug Administration says no food products may be sold or distributed by the Dixie Dew Products, Inc. facility in Erlinger, Kentucky, because they may be contaminated with E. coli. Dixie Dew is I.M. Healthy's contracted soy nut butter manufacturer.

May 4, 2017 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces that the outbreak investigation is over. To date, 32 illnesses have been reported from 12 states.

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General Information: (from the CDC)There are many strains of the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). Most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. Some kinds of E. coli cause disease by producing Shiga toxin. The bacteria that make these toxins are called "Shiga toxin-producing" E.

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germ=bacteria

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some other sources of E.Coli are run off developments direct release of untreated sewage, leakage from sewage pipes E.Coli are also found in human waste and animal waste

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basically anyone can get it because you get it from eating or drinking something with that germ

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do not eat unpasteurized dairy products or undercooked meat or rare ground beef do not drink raw milk or cider made from unwashed apples / always cook meat until the center is brown not pink cook hamburgers until the center is 160 degrees

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the germ must be swallowed to cause infection this can happen if you eat or drink something with these germs in it

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for E.Coli there is no treatment the best thing to do is drink liquids and get lots of rest

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stomach cramps
diarrhea
vomiting
or running a fever