Published Date: 2004-08-20 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> E. coli O157, hockey camp - Canada (ON) (02)
Archive Number: 20040820.2306
E. COLI O157, HOCKEY CAMP - CANADA (ONTARIO) (02)
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Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Globe and Mail [edited]
<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040818.wecoli0818/BNStory/National/>
Hamburger confirmed cause of _E. coli_ outbreak
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Children and adults who fell ill at a Sudbury hockey camp were probably
sickened by undercooked hamburger contaminated by _Escherichia coli_
[O157], health officials confirmed on Wed 18 Aug 2004.
A total of 34 cases were investigated after a number of people fell ill
after either eating the hamburger at the camp on 16 Jul 2004, or coming
into contact with the campers. 4 of the 34 cases were found in the Sudbury
community. To date, 12 of the 34 cases have tested positive for the _E.
coli_ bacterium.
"We have done an intensive epidemiological investigation. Our results
support the conclusion that the undercooked hamburger meat was the most
likely source of the camp outbreak and of at least one additional case in
the community," said Dr Penny Sutcliffe, the region's chief medical health
officer.
All of the meat was purchased at a Costco store and cooked at the camp.
Costco voluntarily recalled the hamburger. Dr Sutcliffe said that the
incident should serve as a warning to people to ensure meat is cooked
properly. "Hopefully some good can come from this outbreak for our
community. I hope that people will think twice about the serious
consequences of foodborne illnesses and the simple precautions that can be
taken to avoid them. Proper cooking and handling of raw meat, combined with
frequent handwashing with soap and water, are vital precautions."
[byline: Allison Dunfield]
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The importance of cooking hamburgers adequately cannot be overemphasized
as a method of minimizing cases of _E. coli_ O157 acquired from ground
beef. - Mod.LL]
See Also
E. coli O157, ground beef - Canada (multiprovince): recall 20040808.2184E. coli O157, hockey camp - Canada (ON) 20040728.2061
E. coli O157, butcher shop - UK (Durham)(02) 20040723.2015
E. coli O157, butcher shop - UK (Durham) 20040706.1809
E. coli O157, day care center - USA (NY City) 20040702.1767
E. coli O157, livestock exposure susp. - USA (NV) 20040526.1411
E. coli O157, pasteurized milk - Denmark (Copenhagen) 20040513.1297
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