Incipient E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak In San Diego County?

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency reported yesterday that two girls, aged 7 and 9, have been diagnosed with an E. coli infection. The children attend Carmel Creek Elementary School in North San Diego County. The girls, who have not been identified, have been hospitalized but are expected to recover.

While there is no indication that the school is the source of the infections, school officials are cooperating with the County investigation and also have notified parents of the illnesses.

There is not yet any indication of the source of these two illnesses, and no additional cases have been reported so far. 

This is just the latest in a rash of small outbreaks of E. coli illnesses, which have popped up in various parts of the United States and in Canada in the past couple of months. Jurisdictions as widely separated as Vermont, Michigan, Washington State, Kansas and Ontario have reported outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in the last two months.

Where will this peripatetic pathogen pop up next?