The Southwest Utah Public Health Department posted on their Facebook page that they are investigating an E.coli bacteria outbreak in Hildale, Utah. Currently, this outbreak appears to be confined to a limited area with little or no risk to the larger community.
Local media report two children died over the last couple of weeks and other children may have been exposed to the deadly pathogen. The children, both identified as residents of Hildale, died while being treated in the hospital.
Health officials say the E.coli investigation is specifically focusing on contaminated food or animal exposure.
Most E. coli are harmless, but some E. coli can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, bloodstream infections, and other illnesses. Children younger than 5 years of age and older adults are more likely to develop serious illness, although people any age can be affected.
E. coli infection ranges from mild to severe, with symptoms lasting about five to seven days in most people. Symptoms of E. coli include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, and abdominal pain. Young children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised are at risk of developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening illness that can cause kidney failure.
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