9/21/2006 4:00:00 AM E. coli case in Yavapai County Local boy is one of five patients in Arizona
By SHARI LOPATIN The Daily Courier
The Arizona State Health Laboratory confirmed five cases of spinach-related E. coli poisoning in Arizona Wednesday afternoon.
One of those is from Yavapai County, said an Arizona Department of Health Services press release.
All five cases were of the same strain of E. coli, 0157:H7, responsible for a national outbreak affecting numerous states. The other four Arizona cases are in Maricopa, Pima and Yuma counties.
Director of Yavapai County Community Health Services Robert Resendes said that after eating fresh spinach, one boy of grade-school age was in the hospital on kidney dialysis in Yavapai County. He doesn't know if the boy will be OK. Resendes said this is the only confirmed case of E. coli poisoning in Yavapai County; however, the Health Department is investigating a couple more reports of possible cases.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control reported that the 0157:H7 strain has infected 146 people from 23 states. Among those sick, 76 went to hospitals and 23 developed a type of kidney failure. No one has died since the original fatality in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the most cases of E. coli poisoning, with 40 reports, while Utah (16) and Ohio (15) come in second and third.
The Food and Drug Administration is working with officials at the California Health Department to determine the exact source of the E. coli strain, said a Yavapai County Health Department press release. So far, the FDA confirms the bug originated from a spinach grower in California, which voluntarily has recalled more than 34 labels of fresh-bagged spinach.
"Until further notice, lay off the spinach," Resendes said, adding that canned and frozen spinach is safe, thus far.
He said cooking spinach at 165 degrees for 15 seconds will kill the E. coli, but the best protection is just not eating it.
For more information on the E. coli outbreak, call the County Health Department at 771-3149.
