CDC Investigating What Is Causing E. Coli Outbreak That's Reached 7 States!!!!

Eeeeee coli. Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that they are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections. That's 17 cases in 7 states (Washington, Idaho, , Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut) in the past 4 weeks.

There is the good kind of Escherichia coli bacteria. Then there is the stinky kind. E. coli O157:H7 is the stinky kind. It's kind of stinky because it often causes bad stomach cramps, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. And not "bloody" as in the English swear word but bloody as in there can be real blood in your diarrhea. You won't necessarily have blood in your diarrhea, and you won't necessarily have symptoms if you are infected with this bacteria. But O157:H7, if you are going to develop symptoms, you're not going to feel well for about 5 to 10 days (starting 2 to 8 days after first swallowing the bacteria). Remember O157:H7 is the uh-oh E. coli.

If you start getting diarrhea from this bacteria, make sure you drink. Not alcohol but water. One of the biggest dangers is dehydration because you are pooping out so much liquid. Antibiotics probably aren't going to help you at all. Don't try anti-diarrhea medications, especially those that have loperamide like Imodium or Maalox. Loperamide (which I have discussed previously for Forbes) slows your intestines so that they may absorb even more toxin from the bacteria and make things worse. Also, don't take anything with salicylates like Pepto-Bismol, aspirin, or ibuprofen. They can cause more bleeding and really bloody, bloody diarrhea.


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