New E. coli outbreak under investigation

The FDA is investigating a new outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections that has sickened 25 people.

The Food and Drug Administration has not reported where the patients live or how old they are. The agency has begun traceback efforts, but is not yet reporting what food or foods are being traced.

E. coli is particularly dangerous and often results in the hospitalization of patients. Some patients develop a type of kidney failure and others develop brain injuries. Death is more likely in patients infected with E. coli O157:H7 than other types of E. coli.

Other outbreak news
For two separate outbreaks from the Cyclospora parasite, the patients counts are increasing. 

The Cyclospora outbreak first reported on July 31 has now infected 46 people, up from 44 a week ago. For the Cyclospora outbreak first reported on Aug. 7, the patient count has increased from 35 to 41 compared to a week ago.

Patient information including ages and states of residence has not been reported for either outbreak.

A source of the parasite in both outbreaks has not yet been determined by FDA investigators. The agency has begun traceback and sample testing and on-site inspection for one of the outbreaks and traceback and sample testing in the other. The FDA has not reported where the site inspection is occurring or what foods are being traced and tested.

In an outbreak of Salmonella Newport that was first reported on Aug. 7, the patient count has increased from four to six as compared to a week ago. The FDA is not reporting the ages of patients or where they live.

The agency has begun traceback but is not reporting what food or foods are being traced. The FDA has also begun on-site inspections but is not reporting what facility is being inspected.

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