E. coli : Manitoba

16.aug.06
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Infectious Diseases News Brief
Public Health Agency of Canada 
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/bid-bmi/dsd-dsm/nb-ab/index.html

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is investigating 17 cases of E. coli infection that have occurred in August, 10 of them since 14 August 2006. In July, there were a total of 10 cases reported in the region bringing the total to 42 cases so far this year. WRHA Medical Officer of Health the region decided to issue a release due to the high number of recent cases and the fact that many of them appear to be related to food preparation, not undercooked meat. The investigation into the cases reveal that while many of the people involved did ingest hamburger, they reported it was well cooked. That raises the concern that this may indeed be an issue of food preparation and cross contamination.