Widest E. Coli outbreak

More than 9,500 cases of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli or E. coli food poisoning were reported in Japan during an outbreak in summer 1996 and, 11 people died as a result of being infected by the O157-H7 bacterium. Reports from the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate at 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in America each year from Escherichia coli 0157-H7. Infection can lead to diarrhea and kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk or sewage-contaminated water.