The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is leading a team of local, federal, and state public health experts in investigating the cause of the E. coli outbreak that has hit the St. Louis region. The investigation involves laboratory analysis, environmental sampling and interviews of reported cases. This information is then combined to determine the possible cause(s) of the outbreak.

Numbers Update – October 7 to November 3

Number of individuals confirmed to have E. coli connected to the St. Louis investigation: 24

Number of food samples, connected to the St. Louis outbreak, tested to date: 55

Number of food samples confirmed to have E. coli (for 17 samples, these results are final; for 38 samples, these are preliminary screening results): 0

Since yesterday’s update, two new cases based on samples previously received at the State Public Health Laboratory have been confirmed and added; however, four cases previously thought to be connected have been determined upon further interview and analysis to be not connected to the St. Louis outbreak.

DHSS can also confirm that the State Lab has received four specimens from Boone County for E. coli testing. Three have tested positive; one is still pending. DHSS scientists are working with health officials in Boone County to investigate those cases in the same way that the St. Louis cases have been handled. At this point, it does not appear that the Boone County cases are connected to the St. Louis cases.