ProMED: E. Coli O157, Lake Swimming - MN

[Wirick.Holiday@epamail.epa.gov]

E. COLI O157, LAKE SWIMMING - USA (MINNESOTA)
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious
Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Source: WCCO (MN) [edited]
<http://wcco.com/health/local_story_189175854.html>

Kids sickened by Anoka County _E. coli_ outbreak
- ------------------------------------------------
An _E. coli_ outbreak on an Anoka County beach has sent at least 2
children to the hospital, the state health department said Fri, 8 Jul
2005.  The outbreak has so far affected children who went swimming on
Coon Lake Beach between 21-23 Jun 2005, the Minnesota Department of
Health said.

Health officials recorded 4 confirmed _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections
associated with the outbreak among children ranging in age from 2 to 13
years. 2 were hospitalized and released, the MDH said.  The children
showed symptoms of infection between 1 and 5 days after swimming in the
lake, health officials said.

Symptoms include stomach cramps and diarrhea, health officials said.
Anyone who swam in Coon Lake and develops these symptoms is urged to
seek medical attention.  _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections can lead to
hemolytic uremic syndrome and kidney failure. No such cases have yet
been identified with this outbreak, health officials said.

Anoka County closed the beach Fri, 8 Jul 2005. It will reopen when water
tests indicate it is safe, health officials said.

- --
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[In the summer, it often happens that cases of O157:H7 disease are
associated with poorly cooked hamburger (or sometimes other food
contaminated with cattle feces) or related to a petting zoo, but readers
should also remember that water -- either drunk or swum in -- may also
be a vehicle for transmission.  It is not stated, however, whether _E.
coli_ O157:H7 was isolated from the water at the beach or if just a high
coliform count was found.  It would be also interesting to know how
close the lake is to any cattle and if there had been a lot of rain
prior to the outbreak.  It is still possible that something eaten by the
children may be involved here.

It should be noted that a recent (6 Jun 2005) article in the journal
Pediatrics reported that early recognition of infection with _E. coli_
O157:H7, with the use of intravenous plasma expansion with fluids, could
lower the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome: Ake JA, Jelacic
S, Ciol MA, et al: Relative nephroprotection during Escherichia coli
O157:H7 infections: association with intravenous volume expansion.
Pediatrics 2005; 115:673-80. - - Mod.LL]

--
Gary N. Greenberg, MD MPH    Sysop / Moderator Occ-Env-Med-L MailList
GNGreenberg@gmail.com                       http://occhealthnews.net



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