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E. coli Fears Prompt Youth Football Cancellations

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

The presence of elk droppings on the football field at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colo., prompted local health officials over the weekend to cancel youth-league games.

 The concern stemmed from recent findings that eight confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections among children from the Evergreen area were very likely acquired from exposure to elk droppings in local fields, parks and around area houses.

The Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment announced last week that specimens obtained from elk droppings in the area around Evergreen tested positive for the same strain of bacteria identified in the children.

The illnesses occurred sporadically this summer and fall in children ranging from ages 4 to 12, health department officials have said.

KUSA-TV reported the football game cancellations on Monday. The station quoted health officials as saying people in the area should use extra caution on sports field s that are also used by wildlife.

Dr. Gayle Miller, senior epidemiologist for Jefferson County, said It's the first time that E. coli in wildlife has been this clearly linked to the source of an outbreak in humans.

Especially in children, E. coli O157:H7 infections can lead to a serious and sometimes deadly complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. The disease can result in kidney failure.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on November 10, 2008 (boomark / email).