High-profile E. coli cases in the Pacific Northwest have raised nationwide fears after three children died in just the past few weeks. But officials with the Oregon Public Health division report that this year's numbers aren't that far out of the ordinary.
So far in 2014, there have been 103 E. coli related illnesses documented in the state, according to the public health data. There been 20 deaths related to E. coli in Oregon since 1992, averaging about one death per year.
Health officials say the upward trend is not cause for concern, because the agency began documenting non-O157 strains as well, which are less harmful strains of E.c oli. The cases of O-157 — the strain found in a 4-year-old girl from Lincoln County who died on Monday — haven't changed significantly from year to year.
E. coli are bacteria that can live in the intestines of humans and animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some strains are harmless, but others can cause illness and sometimes death.
The bacteria has been linked to ground beef, unpasteurized milk, tainted water or unclean vegetables. E. coli can also be spread through fecal matter, so handwashing and bathing after swimming in a pond or lake are very important.
Copyright 2014 Oregon Public Broadcasting