2 people develop rare disease after being infected with E. coli in connection with Rockwood school events
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis County has provided new information regarding the E. coli outbreak tied to Rockwood School District events.
Thursday afternoon, a St. Louis County spokesperson told First Alert 4 that 106 E. coli cases were tied to events hosted or catered through Andre’s Banquet and Catering. More than half of the cases are connected with Rockwood Summit High School.
The Department of Public Health was also notified that two people itted to the hospital for E. coli infection have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare but serious disease that affects the kidneys and blood clotting system.
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A Rockwood Summit High School cheerleader has filed a lawsuit against the catering company. Bill Marler, of the Marler Clark law firm in Seattle, is representing her. The firm specializes in food safety cases.
The St. Louis County Health Department said their current information suggests that salad is the source of illness, but a specific ingredient has not been identified.
The owner of Andre’s Banquets and Catering told First Alert 4 that the lawsuit has no merit. He said his vendors spot-check produce loads daily, are USDA-inspected and follow strict food safety guidelines. He also claimed that the fact that three students who aren’t Rockwood Summit High School students were infected is proof his business is not the source of the outbreak.
State and local health department workers were at the catering business on Monday to take food samples for testing. To gain more certainty about the outbreak, health department officials will also use genetic testing on stool samples.
Dr. Amanda Brzozowsky is the St. Louis Health Department’s senior epidemiologist and is leading the investigation.
The health department has collaborated with the Rockwood School District to distribute an electronic survey to event attendees, which has helped in collecting data on food consumption and symptoms.
The health department urges anyone with symptoms of E. coli infection to seek medical attention immediately.
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