Ben McNeely of the Independent Tribune reported that now seven cases of E. coli have been confirmed by area hospitals.  The outbreak centers around Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant on Main Street in China Grove. Rowan and Cabarrus health officials said the common thread in all the patients is that they ate at the restaurant between May 26 and May 29.

In the last six weeks there have been at least six recalls of red meat and nearly 50 people sickened.

• Tyson Fresh Meats voluntarily recalled 40,440 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The ground beef products were produced on June 2, 2007 and were distributed to retail establishments in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

• Seven Minnesotans who were confirmed as part of the E. coli outbreak that prompted PM Beef Holdings to recall 117,500 pounds of beef trim products that was ground and sold at Lunds and Byerly’s stores.

• Thirteen people have been confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating ground beef produced by United Food Group sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Montana. 445,000 pounds of meat has been recalled.

• Over twenty people have been confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Fresno County. The Fresno County Department of Community Health inspected the “Meat Market” in Northwest Fresno, a potential source of the outbreak. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

• Two people were confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Michigan after eating ground beef produced by Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The E. coli outbreak prompted Davis Creek Meats and Seafood to recall approximately 129,000 pounds of beef products that were distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

• Several people were confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Pennsylvania after eating E. coli-contaminated meat products at Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain that purchased its meat from HFX, Inc., of South Claysburg, Pennsylvania. As a result of the outbreak, HFX recalled approximately 4,900 pounds of meat products.