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One person died and 11 others are suffering from illnesses possibly related to E. coli, a St. Francis Hospital spokeswoman confirmed late Sunday. The identity of the person hasn’t been released and it is believed the person died over the weekend, the spokeswoman said. The 11 people with illnesses remained as St. Francis patients late Sunday, the spokeswoman said. Leslea Bennett-Webb, communications director for the Oklahoma Department of Health, confirmed at least 10 people were taken to the hospital after eating at a restaurant in Locust Grove. She said St. Francis notified them about the victims Friday. However, she said, between 12 to 20 more people in Beggs, Pryor and Bixby were treated at various Northeast Oklahoma hospitals with similar symptoms this past week. There have been discussions the illnesses are related to E. coli, but it hasn’t been confirmed, Bennett-Webb said. These illnesses are a very severe and bloody form of diarrhea, she said. “This is a huge puzzle we’re figuring out,” Bennett-Webb. Known as Escherichia coli, or E. coli, are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some forms of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia and other illnesses. Bennett-Webb said the restaurant and other areas and establishments in Locust Grove were inspected Sunday. “We’re looking everywhere,” Bennett-Webb said.)
E. coli is a natural bacteria in the human though. So, everybody has some sort of E. coli in their belly. Too much of it causes things like cold and flu and it's almost flu season. I wonder if they have found a vaccine for too much E.coli?
