The Washoe County Health District has announced that they are investigating an outbreak of E. coli in Nevada. Eight people have been infected after eating at the Twisted Fork restaurant in south Reno. The cases were reported on November 4th. The restaurant remains open, although they are fully cooperating with health officials. There are no reported cases of hospitalization. The source of the outbreak has yet to be pinpointed. The investigation is ongoing.
E. coli are a family of bacteria that is found in the intestines of many animals. Some strains of the bacteria can cause infection in humans. Symptoms can appear between 3 and 10 days after infection, and will include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. E. coli infections can be very serious. The infection may cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS damages red blood cells, which in turn can cause kidney damage or failure. If you or a loved one begins to show the symptoms of E. coli poisoning, contact a medical professional.
