2016 Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Associated with Louisburg Cider Mill Festival, Kansas
In October 2016 public health officials in Kansas and Missouri investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 among people who attended the Louisburg Cider Mill Festival held over two weekends in September and October, 2016. Fifty-six people reported illness. Ten people were laboratory confirmed. Seven people were infected with Pulsenet strain EXHX01.0047/EXHA26.3187, one person had EXHX01.6536/EXHA26.4766 and the other two people were positive for Shiga toxin by CIDT but were not confirmed by culture. Ten people were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Drinking cold cider (OR: 10.3; 95% CI: 1.2-infinity), either as slush, a frozen cider drink, or iced cider, and eating doughnuts (OR: 10.3, 95% CI: 1.1-94.8) were significantly associated with illness. Ten environmental samples collected on October 27, 2016 at the Louisburg Cider Mill were negative for STEC. Food samples were also negative. An inspection of the mill by Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the FDA was conducted. There were no issues identified with either the cold press flash pasteurization process or general pasteurization. All cider sold in bottles is pasteurized. However, during busy times investigators learned that employees used a chilled cider tank to fill 5-gallon buckets which was served instead of bottled cider. The cider in the tank was not pasteurized.
- Outbreak began:
- September 2016
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- Kansas, Missouri
- Organism(s):
-
- E. coli O157:H7
- Vehicle(s):
- Unpasteurized apple cider
- Molecular Results Available:
- Yes
- Test Results:
- EXHX01.0047/EXHA26.4766; EXHX01.6536/EXHA26.4766
- Location(s):
- Festival
- Brand Name(s):
- Louisburg Cider Mill Cider Festival
- Total ill:
- 56
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Yes
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- 10
- Number Probable Cases:
- 46
- Number Possible Cases:
- 0
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Yes
- Number Hospitalized:
- 10
- Any Deaths:
- No
- Number Dead:
- 0
- Any References:
- No