Possible E. coli Outbreak in Southern Minnesota

State health officials are investigating a possible outbreak of E. coli in southern Minnesota, after at least three patients tested positive for the disease.

The three patients evidently fell ill after eating at the Taco John’s in Albert Lea; it is unknown if the outbreak is related to one in Iowa, where three dozen people came ill after eating at a Taco John’s in Cedar Falls.

Escherichia coli is a species of bacteria commonly found in the lower intestines of mammals, including humans.  The bacteria can become harmful when crossed from one species to another, or when they migrate to a part of the body other than the intestinal tract. It is unknown whether the Iowa/Minnesota outbreak is related to an outbreak in New Jersey, where customers became ill after eating at Taco Bell.  That outbreak was traced to E. coli found on green onions.