Four Corners Health Department investigates E. coli contamination

Vicki Duey, executive director of the Four Corners Health Department in York, says an investigation is underway, regarding two confirmed cases of E. coli contamination in this area.

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She said the cases, which were confirmed by the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, occurred in the Four Corners District — but she would not elaborate as to the exact location. Duey said that because the investigation is still underway, she could not name the exact source of the contamination, or disclose more details regarding the situation.

“We’ve had an increase in reported diarrheal illness in the past week, and we’ve had two confirmed cases of E. coli in the district,” Duey said. “We’re investigating to look for a potential common source. We have no conclusive information, at this time. That’s where we are in the investigation, right now.

“But the situation does not present a significant public health threat,” Duey said. “We do not see this as an ongoing threat at this time.

“When we have two confirmed cases, we start checking around, to look for a common source,” Duey continued. “At this time, we haven’t confirmed a connection between the two cases.”

She also couldn’t discuss whether there were other potential cases being considered or having yet to be confirmed.

The News-Times was contacted by several people who said their family members were hospitalized due to the E. coli contamination incident — but that information could not be confirmed by health authorities.

“It’s important for people to realize how they could become sick from E. coli and other food-borne illnesses,” Duey said, “and how to prevent it.

“Hot foods have to be hot, cold foods have to be cold,” Duey said. “Raw meat has to be separated from ready-to-eat foods. Personal hygiene is very, very important — hands have to be washed and they have to be washed well. We also need to make sure that utensils, counters, cutting boards are cleaned very well, to eliminate cross contamination — make sure that surfaces and utensils are cleaned after being exposed to raw meat. And don’t use the same plate, when grilling, that you used to carry out the raw meat — to bring back in the cooked meat. Make sure that everything is truly being cleaned, with products meant to destroy those germs.

“And meat temperatures are extremely important,” Duey said, noting that their office may be contacted, to provide temperature guides and other information that will keep people safe.

What exactly is E. coli?

“The source of E. coli and many other different food-borne illness is quite frankly feces,” Duey said.

“If someone has severe abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, meaning it is probably bloody — because that is really the most significant symptom — we encourage them to contact their medical provider immediately. It is really important that they seek medical attention right away.”

Because of the investigation, Four Corners will be posting valuable information about the prevention of E. coli contamination on their website at www.fourcornershealthdepartment.com. They may also be contacted at 362-2621.
“Again, I cannot go further into the perceived source of the E. coli, or the situation surrounding the cases, at this time, because the investigation is still underway,” Duey said, noting more information may become available in the near future.