In an update on the E. coli outbreak at the Montessori of Alameda school in Portland, The Multnomah County Health Department said Wednesday that seven people have now been sickened by Escherichia coli bacteria at the school, six children and one adult.
Health officials say all the illnesses occurred in one classroom.
Four of the people are confirmed to have E. coli, O157:H7 and two of these cases genetically match the E. coli strain from the national I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter outbreak. Three additional people are known to have shiga-toxin producing E. coli and further test results are pending. The Health Department has been investigating diarrhea illnesses at the school since March 7, 2017.
I.M. Healthy Soy Nut Butter and I.M. Healthy granola was recalled nationwide on March 4, 2017 after 16 other people became ill in nine states, including Oregon. The Health Department is investigating how the SoyNut Butter E. coli strain was introduced into Montessori of Alameda.
“We are working closely with families, staff, and school administrators to stop the spread of this infection and understand how this outbreak happened,” said Dr. Jennifer Vines, Multnomah County Deptuty Health Officer. She added that if people have the recalled product still in their home, they should immediately throw it out or return it to the store where it was purchased.
Last week, The Oregon Health Authority has verified that two confirmed cases of E. coli O157 infection in Clackamas County siblings are part of a national outbreak.
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