Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 leading to the recall of retail ground beef--Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 1999.

Seven of the nine people present at the barbeque developed diarrhea with abdominal cramps between 3 to 10 days following the barbeque (Fig.1). Two had bloody diarrhea. The two children with bloody diarrhea (an 11-month-old male and a 15-year-old female) and one with non-bloody diarrhea (a 4-year-old female) sought medical attention. There was sufficient stool from two of these children (the 11-month-old male and the 4-year-old female) and both were positive for E. coli O157:H7, phage type 14. Six of the seven ill people ate hamburger, but the 4-year-old female (culture positive) did not. All cases recovered fully.