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E. coli in Oklahoma Water Wells Still Under Test

By PritzkerLaw

The Oklahoma Department of Health will do more testing to determine the type of E. coli bacteria found in water wells around Locust Grove, the location of an E. coli 0111 outbreak last year that killed a man and sickened 313 others.

Health officials have known since the outbreak occurred in August 2008 that the E. coli was spread by Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, but no one has ever pinpointed the cause. The issue arose again in mid-February when Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson issued a report saying that chicken manure spread in area fields was the possible source of the problem.

In conjunction with the report, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality tested water wells within a five-mile radius of the restaurant. The results showed 17 of 59 water wells contained  E. coli.

Leslea Bennett-Webb, a spokesman for the state Department of Health, told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, that Health Department officials will conduct additional tests in an effort to find the cause of the E. coli contamination. At this point, the state doesn't even know what type of E. coli was found in the wells. Bennett-Webb said "we're going to be looking for 0111."

The region around Locust Grove is known for poultry production, but industry officials have repeatedly said there is no link between the spreading of chicken litter on area pastures and the presence of E. coli in well water supplies.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on February 28, 2009 (boomark / email).