vlcsnap-2012-07-09-16h08m00s102_20120709160825_320_240.PNGAccording to Dayton Daily News, one of the victims, 73-year old man, of an E. coli outbreak linked to a July 3 picnic in Germantown has died, health officials said this morning.

UPDATE:  According to WDTN, Lowell Draffen, former superintendent of a handful of area school districts died Monday night.  Draffen served as superintendent at Mad River Schools and Valley View Schools. Most recently he served as superintendent at Trotwood-Madison Schools. Draffen retired from that district in 2010.

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 75 individuals have become ill. Of those, 14 have been hospitalized. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic held by Neff’s Lawn Care, 9400 Ekhart Road, on July 3. Of the ill, 18 have been confirmed as being infected by E. coli O157. Three individuals are experiencing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a disease that destroys red blood cells, and can cause sudden, short-term-acute-kidney failure. Those affected include a 4-year old female, a 14-year old male, and the 73-year old male.

Cases that have involved residents of Ohio over the last decades include:

ConAgra Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2002)

Cuyahoga County E. coli outbreak – Ohio (2009)

Dole Spinach E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2006)

Freshway Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2010)

JBS Swift E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)

Jimmy John’s Clover Sprouts E. coli O26 Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2012)

KFC E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Ohio (1999)

Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide (2008)

Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)

Tyson Fresh Meats E. coli Lawsuit – Ohio (2011)

Valley Meats E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania (2009)