Tulsa World: Outbreak's origin a mystery

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

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Outbreak's origin a mystery
The source of a rare pathogen that killed one man and sickened dozens eludes investigators.

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 1/22/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 1/22/2009 10:14 AM

Complete coverage: Read all the stories related to the E. Coli outbreak and search a database of state restaurant inspections.

The mystery of how the largest E. coli O111 outbreak in U.S. history came about will never be known, lead investigator Dr. Kristy Bradley said.

"Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to be unable to pinpoint exactly a bacteria's entry to a restaurant," said Bradley, the state epidemiologist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The final report on the five-month investigation into the northeastern Oklahoma outbreak will be released in mid-February. The findings were first reported on tulsaworld.com.

In late August, more than 300 people fell ill after eating at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove. About 70 people were hospitalized, and a Pryor man, Chad Ingle, died after contracting the bacteria.

"We feel we did a very complete epidemiological investigation," Bradley said. "We looked at numerous specimens from employees who had fallen ill, to water, to the food and environmental surfaces."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was called in early in the investigation to help determine what bacterium was sickening so many people.

It was the CDC that finally narrowed the source to the rare and virulent form of E.

coli that Bradley called "a very bad actor."

Ten children and a few adults required dialysis because their kidneys shut down. Some were in the hospital for weeks.

E. coli O111 is a shiga toxin-producing form of E. coli, a type of enterohemorrhagic bacteria that can cause illness ranging from mild intestinal disease to severe kidney complications, Bradley said.

Although the investigation will never reveal the origin of the bacteria, Bradley said officials are certain that people were exposed at the restaurant in Locust Grove.

"We knew Country Cottage was where the people were exposed," she said. "But we can't say specifically how it spread."

Investigators might have been able to determine its origin had investigators actually found the organism among the many environmental specimens tested, Bradley said.

But searches for an actual organism after exposure and outbreaks are rarely successful, she said.

Bradley said the bacteria could have come in on somebody's boots and have been spread by restaurant patrons and food handlers alike.

Cindi Moore, a member of the family that owns the restaurant, said the outbreak and its fallout have been "emotional for everyone involved."

The restaurant's owners, Dale and Linda Moore, expressed deep sadness about the outbreak in numerous written statements.

The restaurant closed Aug. 25 after it was determined to be the source of the outbreak. It reopened in late November.

Under an agreement with the state Health Department, the restaurant had to meet 11 requirements, including disconnecting a private well on the premises, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting every surface in the restaurant, and implementing a new hand-washing monitoring system. Each employee also was required to complete a food safety class.

When the restaurant opened again, Bradley said, the problem had been remedied.

"There is no more risk of acquiring E. coli at that restaurant than at any other restaurant," she said.

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (1/22/2009 6:43:57 AM) "...the largest E. coli O111 outbreak in U.S. history..." And the largest act of domestic terrorist (Oklahoma City bombing) And high teen pregnancy rates. And high levels of mercury in our water. Can someone PLEASE give me some positive points about this state?
	Report Comment online predator, Muskogee (1/22/2009 7:11:47 AM) Look at the free Ads country cottage is getting, There so lucky.
	Report Comment Travis, Tahlequah (1/22/2009 7:27:04 AM) I haven eaten there since they have reopened. The food is good as always, the restaurant is clean as always.
	Report Comment Mistic_wolf, tahlequah (1/22/2009 8:09:02 AM) This is a scary thing. Not knowing what is the cause. I hope they figure something out soon.
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (1/22/2009 8:31:38 AM) I think I noticed George Bush and Dick Cheney leaving the area, earlier that day....
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (1/22/2009 8:51:22 AM) In the movie "Outbreak" it was a government study that went awry. If that were the case, it went very well to plan. You had all the elements necessary for a live test. In the end, the source was never detected. So far we know they can get us with spinach, salads, tomatoes, peanut butter, meats, water, soft drinks, tea, dairy, apple juice, hfcs, and food dyes. The Jetsons's food-a-rack-a-cycle is looking better all the time. Pea soup on the Enterprise isn't that be either.
	Report Comment Ignatz, Broken Bow (1/22/2009 9:35:40 AM) Really scary that they can't pin-point cause. Imagine what would happen if this occurred on a large, national level. We'd be in serious trouble.
	Report Comment lucky girl, (1/22/2009 4:50:46 PM) Someone didn't wash their hands after they went potty...GROSS!
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (1/23/2009 5:14:54 AM) Thats why I dont eat out.

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