Published: September 30, 2008 08:00 pm      

Possible E. coli outbreak investigated

PETOSKEY -- Public health officials will investigate a potential E. coli outbreak in Emmet County.

Four people were diagnosed with a severe type of E. coli infection within the last week, all with bloody diarrhea and dehydration that required hospitalization.

Testing is under way to determine if there is a connection with the same strain that caused at least 30 cases of E. coli in downstate Michigan, specifically linked to iceberg lettuce.

"Right now, we don't know if the outbreak is from person-to-person contact, a food-borne illness or another source," said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, medical director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

Anyone with fever, nausea, vomiting and especially bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps should call a health care provider right away, Meyerson said.