By Kathy Will
A laboratory worker who handles E. coli bacteria at North Dakota State University (NDSU) is suffering from a gastrointestinal illness that could possibly be caused by E. coli.
Tests are pending, but as a precaution, the university has issued an email alert to staff and students warning them to be extra careful with hygiene and the promptly report any diarrheal illness they may contract. The natural concern is to protect against a person-to-person E. coli outbreak..
According to the Fargo Forum, the NDSU E. coli scientist who is ill works in the university’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering. A university spokeswoman did not specify Friday whether the employee was working with E. coli O157:H7, E. coli 0111 or some other type of the bacteria. E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli 0111 are among the type that produce a Shiga toxin that can lead to a serious complication known a Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, or E. coli HUS.
Young children, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems are most susceptiple to HUS, which is the leading cause of E. coli deaths. Most cases are contracted from eating food contaminated with E. coli, but person-to-person transmission is an important way the bacteria can be spread.
