E. coli outbreak confirmed in Calgary, although source not pinpointed
Posted Feb 3, 2016 3:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta Health Services is dealing with an outbreak of E. coli.
14 cases of lab confirmed E. coli have been found as of Tuesday.
Two of the cases have been linked to a certain kind of sausage sold at a local butcher shop, but the sources for the others are still being investigated.
As of right now, AHS is telling anyone who bought Hungarian Farmer’s Sausage at Paolini’s Sausage & Meats LTD in the Manchester industrial park before Feb 2 to handle the product as though it is raw and cook it to a temperature over 71 degrees Celsius, which would destroy any E coli bacteria.
The product could have been sold at other locations in and out of Calgary.
In a release, AHS offered the following tips to reduce risk of E. coli infection:
- · Wash hands with hot, soapy water often, including after you go to the washroom, before you prepare food, after you touch raw meat, and after you change diapers.
- · Cook beef and pork to at least 71 C (160 F).
- · Thoroughly wash all kitchen tools and surfaces that have touched raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.
- · Thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before eating.
- · Use only pasteurized milk, dairy, and juice products.
- · Ensure water used for drinking or food preparation is from approved sources (including municipal water supply or properly maintained/treated well water).
More information can be found here.
