PHAC looking into leafy greens as source of E.coli outbreak
PHAC looking into leafy greens as source of E.coli outbreak
The Public Health Agency of Canada announced that it is collaborating with federal and provincial public health partners to investigate an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7, commonly called E.coli, with a possible link to leafy greens. The agency said that a specific product has not been identified yet and the investigation is ongoing.
"There have been 12 cases of E.coli with a matching genetic fingerprint reported in Alberta (nine), Saskatchewan (one), Ontario (one), and Newfoundland and Labrador (one)," the agency said in a statement. "The illness onset dates range from March 13 to March 31."
PHAC said that exposure to leafy greens — including all varieties of lettuces and other green leaf vegetables such as kale, spinach, arugula, or chard — has emerged as a possible source of illness based on the investigation findings to date.
While the agency said the risk to Canadians is low, PHAC said it will continue to monitor for and investigate any new cases of E.coli that may be related to this outbreak as part of its routine surveillance activities.