Two recent outbreaks of E. coli O111 and E. coli O145 have drawn attention to these two lesser-known but equally harmful types of E. coli. The “E.coli” with which most people are familiar is E. coli O157:H7. It is the only type of E. coli that’s regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but it is certainly not the only dangerous type of this pathogen.
An E. coli O111 outbreak was discovered April 22 at Four Mile Prison in Canon City, Colorado, according to statements released by the Colorado Department of Corrections. Three inmates have become sick from this pathogen and eight more could be involved in the outbreak too, said Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti. The state DOC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have been working together to investigate the outbreak. There is no evidence of poor health conditions in the prison’s kitchen facilities, according to preliminary investigations.
E. coli outbreaks are often spread through animal fecal matter, such as that of cattle and other livestock, that contaminates food and water sources surrounding the area where the livestock are kept. The prison does operate a dairy, however, officials say none of the inmates who are sick ever worked at the dairy.
The second outbreak of E. coli O145 continues to grow, and has now sickened people in Ohio, New York and Michigan. The food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen continue to monitor health department and news reports.
