It seems that either food-related infections have gone up or they are reported more often than in the past. Oklahoma State Health Department spokeswoman Leslea Bennett-Webb announced that one person had died and dozens are sick after being infected with what appears to be E. coli. It is believed that all of them got the E. coli after eating at a restaurant in Locust Grove.

The bacterium was not confirmed yet, but symptoms indicate that E. coli might be responsible. At least 11 patients were admitted to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa with symptoms of food poisoning, including a very severe and bloody form of diarrhea. This might indicate a very virulent strain of E. coli, but other food borne illnesses cannot yet be excluded.

The restaurant at issue is the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, but the source of the bacteria has not yet been identified.

E. coli bacteria can cause serious food poisoning in humans. The infection can trigger stomach cramps, diarrhea, dehydration and in most severe cases, kidney failure. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli infects an estimated 73,000 people and kills 61 a year in the U.S.

People predisposed to the infection include children, seniors and persons whose immune system is weakened. Antibiotics typically are not helpful, and infections are often treated by drinking fluids and taking pain relievers.