DHSS Press Release |
Date: December 8, 2006 DHSS-120-2006 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Reporters Phone: 302-744-4907 |
DPH E. COLI UPDATE
As of 12:00 p.m. Additional updates by 3 p.m. today.
Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) provides the following update on investigations of possible E. coli cases associated with Taco Bell restaurants, and food safety actions taken with Delaware's 14 restaurant locations.
Note: The status of early cases may have changed. Cases are confirmed based on laboratory test results. Per policy, DPH does not provide or confirm names of cases or clients.
| CDC CATEGORY | AGE | SEX | COUNTY RESIDING | TACO BELL | CURRENT STATUS | DATE DINED | DATE DPH NOTIFIED |
| confirmed | 15 | F | New Castle | Union County, N. Jersey | Not hospitalized | 11/18/06 | 11/28/06 |
| confirmed | 21 | M | New Castle | 3902 Concord Pike, DE | Not hospitalized | 11/20/06 | 12/8/06 |
| suspect | 59 | F | New Castle | 379 East Chestnut Hill Plaza, Newark, DE | Not hospitalized | 11/27/06 | 12/08/06 |
Test results show that a fourth individual, who had been a suspect case based on symptoms, has a negative culture for E.coli 0157, and negative shigatoxin test, so she is no longer a suspect case.
All Delaware Taco Bell locations will be re-inspected by DPH today. Due to new case investigations, DPH's Health Systems Protection Section now requires the following four interventions to be implemented at the 3902 Concord Pike and 379 East Chestnut Hill Plaza locations:
- Clean and sanitize the entire facility.
- Discard and resupply foods currently on the restaurant premises.
- Collect stool samples from all food workers for testing for E. coli O157. Any symptomatic workers or culture-positive workers must not work their labs tests are negative for E. coli.
- Provide enhanced training in proper food handling and hygiene to food workers.
This locations can not reopen until meeting these requirements. The Delaware Public Health Laboratory has begun testing on food samples collected yesterday. Samples include lettuce, tomato, cilantro, cheese, salsa. DPH staff are distributing stool culture kits to employees at the Kirkwood Hwy Taco Bell. Sample results will be available next week.
According to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the following state report probable cases associated with the outbreak: New Jersey 20, New York 15, Pennsylvania 7 and Delaware as above. Additional cases are suspected in these states and in Connecticut. Thirty five individuals were hospitalized, three with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. CDC reports that the first reported onset of illness connected with this outbreak occurred on November 20, 2006.
FDA also reports that Taco Bell Corp. will voluntarily remove green onions from its restaurant nationwide after preliminary tests by the firm indicated possible presence of E. coli. 0157:H7. FDA continues investigating other food commodities as the source of E. coli. FDA is obtaining samples of all non-meat items served in the restaurant, including cilantro, cheddar cheese, blended cheese, green onions, yellow onions, tomatoes and lettuce. The samples will be tested at FDA laboratories. No data has yet implicated or ruled out any of these items. FDA also is working with Taco Bell Corp., its suppliers and distributors to obtain information on sources and distribution of products.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
