(MSN) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it has yet to determine the source of an E. coli outbreak that has infected 72 people in five states — an admission one expert in a foodborne illness called “perplexing,” considering how many have become sick. The recent spate of sickness, which began March 2, is directly linked to a strain of E. coli known as “O103,″ according to the CDC. Eight people
have been hospitalized as a result of the O103 outbreak, however, no deaths have been reported. The patients’ ages range from 1 to 74 years old with a median age of 17. Symptoms of E. coli infection often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, typically occurring three days after consuming the bacteria. The states affected by the outbreak are Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. READ MORE
