The Flathead County Health Department released additional information about the outbreak on Friday after receiving test results from both clinical and food samples collected as part of an investigation into a Flathead County E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef distributed to a local restaurant.
The last known consumption of Wagyu ground beef linked to this outbreak was on July 14, and the City-County Health Department announced that public health staff worked directly with affected businesses to ensure that remaining beef from contaminated lots linked to the outbreak was not used.
In a press release issued jointly with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), the City-County Health Department provided further details about which restaurants have been linked to illnesses related to the outbreak, which has infected 14 people and is also linked to the death of a woman previously listed as an out-of-state resident over the age of 65.
In both cases, attendees reported eating undercooked or cooked-to-order burgers, according to a press release, and Health Official Jennifer Rankosky said the restaurants involved in investigating the outbreaks were “very cooperative.”
Gunsight Saloon, Hops Downtown Grill, Tamarack Brewing Company, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and Harbor Grill have all been linked to illnesses during this outbreak, according to a press release Friday. The press release also stated that information provided through case investigations indicates that the individual who died had contact with Wagyu beef consumed at Harbor Grill.
The health department said Flathead Fish, Crawdad Cafe and Flathead Lake Lodge also received tainted Wagyu beef from the same source, but there have been no reports of illnesses linked to those establishments.
According to a press release, the source of the infection was Wagyu beef with a single lot number. A “lot number” is how meat processing facilities track when their products were made. Alicia Love, Meat, Milk and Egg Inspection Director for the Montana Department of Cattle, said a “lot” refers to raw materials, like a herd of cattle, that are processed at the same time or within a short period of time and may not be washed between processing.
The Montana Department of Health became involved after the Flathead Health Department detected an increase in E. coli cases on July 10 and reported the information to the state health department. Several of the initial cases detected were not Flathead County residents but had sought medical care in Flathead County, according to health department communications director John Ebert. On July 12, the health department and county health department determined that the reported cases must have traveled to Flathead County and began an investigation to find common routes of infection among the cases, Ebert said.
The Shiga toxin-producing strain of E. coli 0157, which has emerged in Flathead County, can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody stools, vomiting, fever, and chills in infected individuals. Those at highest risk for severe illness are young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Severe illness can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems, and death. Symptoms of E. coli infection can appear 1-10 days after infection, but on average, appear 3-4 days after infection.
Infection can occur by eating raw or undercooked animal products contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
According to the health department, food poisoning can be prevented by cooking ground beef and pork to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit and not eating raw or undercooked ground beef. People should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before handling or eating food.
In the nearly 10-year span from 2014 to 2023, there were six outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) reported to DPHHS. STEC is a type of E. coli infection that is reportable in Montana, according to DPHHS. Two of the six outbreaks reported in the state during this time period were linked to multi-state outbreaks linked to contaminated grocery store products.
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