No E. Coli Found In Restaurant

The Oklahoma State Department of Health says they found no evidence of a particular type of E. coli on food preparation and serving surfaces at a Mayes County restaurant. 

The particular strain of E. coli is E. coli 0111.

Health officials are still looking at food samples from the Country Cottage in Locust Grove. 

More than 300 additional people have been interviewed by health workers to help narrow down the possible cause. 

State officials still want to talk with families who have children who ate at the restaurant between August 15 and the 17. 

They need more information about what people ate including those that did not get sick. 

If you can help call 1-800-990-2769 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday thru Friday. 

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News release from Oklahoma State Department of Health:

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) said today that analysis of environmental samples taken from the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK, indicated no disease-causing pathogens were found on the restaurant's surfaces. The restaurant has been the focus of an ongoing investigation into the source of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma.

"We found no firm evidence of E. coli 0111 on food preparation and serving surfaces," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. "I would caution, however, that it is very challenging to go to the scene of a food-borne illness outbreak and try to retrieve an organism from surfaces that may have been cleaned since any contamination took place."

E. coli 0111 was identified from laboratory specimens of patients sickened by the outbreak.

Laboratory analysis of foods sampled at the restaurant is continuing.

"It is possible that any environmental contamination was not widespread in the restaurant, so our epidemiological investigation will continue to focus on what foods may have been contaminated and caused persons to become ill," Bradley said.

The OSDH is continuing to interview families who had children who ate at the restaurant Aug. 15-17 to determine the possible association of illness to specific food items. Most persons who became ill reported eating at the Country Cottage the weekend of Aug. 15. Persons can call the OSDH at 1-800-990-2769 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day through this Friday, Sept. 12.

Where available in northeastern Oklahoma, the public may call 2-1-1 for more information about the outbreak. Additional information is also on the Oklahoma State Department of Health's Web site at www.health.ok.gov. Click on "Current Features - Severe Diarrheal Illness Outbreak."

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Related story:

9/8/2008  Health Department Taking Calls On Country Cottage