Minnesota E.coli linked to Hartmann farm

Minnesota Department of Health officials say lab tests link raw milk from a Gibbon dairy farm to at least four cases of E.coli sickness in the state, a fifth case is still under investigation. Other cases could show up as it can take up to two weeks for E.coli to show up. Hartmann dairy farm has been identified as the source of the E.coli, officials say eight samples collected around the farm last week tested positive for the definitive DNA fingerprint found in all of the patients. This is the first time this particular stain of the bacteria has been found in Minnesota. In addition, another form of toxin-producing E.coli was found on the farm suggesting an ongoing pathway of contamination exists.

The first case was reported on May 1st, one of the cases was a toddler who was hospitalized with what were described as “potentially deadly complications” from the E.coli, that toddler was released from the hospital on Wednesday.