EDMONTON — One person has died and more than 30 people have fallen ill following an E. coli outbreak that Alberta Health Services has called “extremely complex” to investigate.

In a statement, AHS says it has expanded its investigation into the source of an outbreak of E. coli, beyond cases directly linked to an Edmonton restaurant late last month.

While 21 of these lab-confirmed cases are linked to Mama Nita’s Binalot restaurant in Edmonton, AHS no longer has public health concerns related to the restaurant.

The number of lab-confirmed cases of E. coli has increased to 34, including 11 patients who have needed hospital care, and one patient who has died likely due to E. coli infection.

“This outbreak is extremely complex, however AHS, in partnership with other provincial and federal agencies, is doing all we can to protect the health of Albertans,” said Dr. Chris Sikora, a medical officer of health in the Edmonton zone, in a statement. “The risk of illness remains very low.”

AHS has not yet identified the source of these cases, but believes they are linked to the initial outbreak.

AHS has worked closely with the owners of Mama Nita’s Binalot since it was identified that a cluster of people with lab-confirmed E. coli ate at the restaurant. AHS says the owners have taken significant steps to manage this issue, including voluntarily closing until AHS was confident the restaurant could reopen without presenting a risk to the public.

Environmental public health staff have worked closely with the restaurant operator and staff to increase safety and reduce risk. These measures include increased hand hygiene measures, food safety retraining for staff, some minor renovations and close monitoring of food-handling practices, AHS added.

The predominant symptom of this strain of E. coli is diarrhea, which may be bloody. In more severe cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (a form of kidney failure) can develop.

Symptoms usually start one to 10 days after eating food contaminated with E. coli bacteria. If you are concerned or start to develop symptoms, please visit a health clinic or your family physician as soon as possible. It is important that you mention your possible exposure to E. coli O157: H7, which is the strain of the bacteria identified by AHS in this outbreak.

Children, seniors and people who are immunocompromised are at greater risk of complications from this strain of E. coli. The majority of individuals who get sick from E. coli will improve on their own within 10 days, but a small proportion may develop complications.

E. coli infections are generally caused when a person eats food or drinks water that is contaminated with human or animal feces, or through direct contact with a person who is sick or with animals that carry the bacteria.

AHS urges anyone who has symptoms of E. coli to contact Health Link.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: