E. coli identified as cause of disease outbreak

"Our laboratory results indicate that we are dealing with an unusual type of E. coli that produces two different types of toxins. These toxins are responsible for the very severe disease that we are seeing in many persons sickened by this outbreak," State Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said in a news release.

The outbreak's victims have become sick with severe, bloody diarrhea. Several are children. Most of them recently ate at the Country Cottage buffet restaurant in Locust Grove, which is about 50 miles east of Tulsa.

E. coli is a group of bacteria found in the guts of animals and in feces. Most are harmless, but a couple of strains can cause severe illness or death if ingested by people. Bradley said in the news release that E. coli illnesses can spread within a family. People should wash their hands frequently to avoid becoming ill if they are in close contact with a person who may be infected, and people who might be infected should not help prepare meals, she said.

The state Health Department first got signs of the outbreak Friday, and alerted the public Monday. The man who died, 26-year-old Chad Ingle, ate at Country Cottage on Aug. 17 and died Sunday.

Since Monday, the number of illnesses associated with the outbreak has climbed, but Bradley said today that the outbreak is under control.