| We live in a fast food mentality society. Everything | | | | during slaughter and processing of the livestock. |
| must get to market faster to satisfy the rising | | | | Tests must also become mandatory and the meat |
| demands of its ever growing population of hungry | | | | withheld from market if it is found to be |
| consumers.The meat industry has successfully | | | | contaminated! |
| stepped up to the plate and have delivered. But | | | | 9. Prevent environment contamination of fields and |
| many meat producers are operating with very poor | | | | their water sources. |
| sanitary methods. Resulting in E. Coli warnings, | | | | 10. Avoid swallowing water from lakes, pools.How is |
| illnesses and sometimes death! Over 70,000 people | | | | E. Coli O157:H7 being spread?Meat is being |
| are infected with E. Coli O157:H7 and less than 61 | | | | contaminated during the slaughter process and is |
| deaths attributed to E.Coli occur each year.What is E. | | | | accidentally being mixed in during the grounding of |
| Coli?E. Coli O157:H7 is just one of the hundreds of | | | | the meat. In cases of becoming infected by raw milk |
| strains of the bacterium known as Escherichia coli. | | | | it is because the udders of the cow or the milking |
| This particular strain has a powerful toxin that can | | | | equipment were not properly cleansed or |
| result in severe illness and in some cases even death. | | | | cleaned.Please note E. Coli O157:H7 can be found in |
| Most E. Coli outbreaks have been the result of eating | | | | the intestines of healthy animals including cattle, |
| undercooked contaminated ground beef.How do | | | | sheep, goats and deer. This bacteria can be found at |
| people become infected with E. Coli O157:H7?1. Eating | | | | most cattle farms and petting zoos. The fur, ground, |
| undercooked, contaminated ground beef. | | | | feeders and waterers, railings can be contaminated |
| 2. Eating contaminated fresh leafy vegetables and or | | | | with this bacteria. So it is absolutely imperative that |
| bean sprouts. | | | | you clean and wash yourself and your clothing should |
| 3. Contamination by means of Person to Person | | | | you visit a farm, petting zoo, animal exhibit or show. I |
| contact. | | | | suggest carrying antiseptic bacterial fighting wipes in |
| 4. Drinking contaminated unpastuerized milk or juices. | | | | your car, purse, backpack or what have you. Young |
| 5. Drinking contaminated water | | | | children must be supervised and their hands must be |
| 6. Swimming in contaminated water. | | | | kept away from their face and mouths.What are the |
| 7. Eating unwashed fruits or vegetables where | | | | symptoms of E. Coli O157:H7?Generally people who |
| manure has been used as fertilizer or has | | | | are exposed to E. Coli O157:H7 can become ill any |
| contaminated the water source used to irrigate the | | | | where from two to eight days after exposure. Some |
| fields. Manure is a primary source of E.Coli | | | | of the symptoms may include severe bloody diarrhea |
| O157:H7.How can we prevent E.Col | | | | and abdominal cramps, little or no fever. Not all of |
| i O157:H7 infection?1. Wash your hand prior to and | | | | those infected will experience these symptoms. The |
| after handling food. | | | | illness ends within five to ten days.In children under |
| 2. Be sure to ALWAYS thoroughly cook ground | | | | the age of five and in the elderly the E. Coli O157:H7 |
| beef. | | | | can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), where |
| 3. Only drink pasteurized milk. | | | | the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys |
| 4. Wash fruits and vegetables well. Removes outside | | | | subsequently fail. (HUS) is a life threatening condition |
| leaves or peel and discard the skins or peelings. | | | | that is generally treated in an intensive care unit and |
| 5. Only drink pasteurized juices. | | | | blood transfusions and or kidney dialysis may be |
| 6. Thoroughly cook salami | | | | required.The way to diagnose E.Coli is is by testing |
| 7. Develope good hygiene habits and wash hands | | | | stool sample for the bacterium. As far as treatment |
| often! Especially when interacting with babies or | | | | goes, it is not recommended to receive antibiotics. |
| toddlers, because it is transmitted through their | | | | Most patients recover without complications in five to |
| feces. Anyone with diarrheal illness should not swim, | | | | ten days. Anti diarrhea medications should not be |
| bath with others or prepare food. | | | | used as well.If you have a bloody stool see your Dr. |
| 8. Since livestock are the primary source of E. Coli | | | | immediately and ask to be tested for E. |
| changes must be made in the preparation before and | | | | |