OSDH: E. Coli Outbreak Is Now Over

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The worst E. coli outbreak of its kind is now over.  That's the word from the Oklahoma Department of Health.

State health officials say at least 314 people got sick and one man died.  Of those, 72 were hospitalized, 17 had to be put on dialysis.

After more than 1,800, state health officials are now saying the E. coli outbreak was directly related to Locust Grove's Country Cottage Restaurant. 

One month later some patients, including children, are still in the hospital.

"I don't really know how to describe it. I wouldn't wish this on anybody," said Becky Morton, mother of E. coli patient.

Becky Morton's 12-year-old daughter has been at St. Francis hospital for a month.  They both ate at Locust Grove's Country Cottage Restaurant, which has now been directly tied to the E. coli outbreak.

The source of the contamination has still not been found.

The town of Locust Grove, hit hard by the outbreak and the bad publicity, rallied last week to move forward.  But, relatives of those sick still want answers.

"I don't have a bone to pick with anyone. I really don't blame anyone. I just feel like we have to get answer to it," said Tamyra Parker, grandmother of an E. coli patient.

Becky Morton agrees, saying there's no moving on, until everyone moves out of the hospital.  She talked with The News On 6 on the phone, because she refuses to leave her daughter's bedside.

She says Lexy is getting better and was recently released from intensive care.

"I do believe we're headed in the right direction. She has improved tremendously in the last few days. But, they've not told us exactly when we're gonna get to go home. We don't know," said Becky Morton, mother of an E. coli patient.

State health officials are still trying to narrow down specific food items that could be the source of the outbreak.

Friends of the Morton family set up two funds to help them with Lexy's hospital bills:

Lexy Morton Medical Expense Fund

Bank of Locust Grove

P.O. Box 219

Locust Grove, OK 74352

(918) 479-5225

or

Lexy Morton Fund

Union Bank

5623 S. Lewis

Tulsa, OK 74105

(918) 712-1795

Related story:

9/9/2008  No E. Coli Found In Restaurant