Health officials in Sisseton, SD are searching for the source of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened eight children, some of whom have been hospitalized. Young children are at high risk for E. coli infections and a severe complication associated with them called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure.
State health officials are looking for common exposures that may have been the source of illness for the children in this rural community with a population of about 2,500 located in the northeastern corner of the state.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be watery or bloody. Usually, these symptoms develop within 72 hours of exposure. Anyone in Sisseton with these symptoms should see a doctor right away.
E. coli bacteria under a magnification of 6836x
Recent E. coli outbreaks affecting significant numbers of children have been linked to leafy greens, ground beef and nut butters, unpasteurized milk, exposure to animals at petting zoos, and poor employee hygiene in daycare settings.
The E. coli attorneys at Pritzker Hageman have represented clients in each of those kinds of outbreaks. And our attorneys are among the few in the U.S. that have won multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for people sickened in these outbreaks, including a $7.5 million for a little girl who lost kidney function after contracting an E. coli infection. If you have been sickened in this outbreak, we want to help. Use the form below to contact us. You can also call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free) or send a text to 612-261-0856 to request a free consultation.