Disease Information
Escherichia coli is a bacterium with hundreds of strains, the most famous of which is
Escherichia coli O157:H7. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, some produce a powerful toxin (shiga toxin) and can cause severe illness. All shiga toxin-producing
E. coli (STEC) are reportable in Oregon.
Visit CDC's website to learn what you can do to lower your chances of infection.
Disease Reporting
What is required?
Health Care Providers and Clinical Laboratories
Health care providers and clinical laboratories are
required by law to report cases and suspect cases of shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli to local health departments within
one working day of identification.
Cases are subject to
restriction on school and child care attendance, food handling, and patient care while in the communicable stage of the disease, or for the duration of any diarrhea and/or vomiting. In general, restrictions on cases with Shiga-toxigenic
Escherichia coli infection or shigellosis
shall not be lifted until results of licensed laboratory tests of two consecutive approved fecal specimens collected not less than 24 hours apart show no identifiable pathogens. If sufficient measures have been taken to prevent transmission, or the disease is no longer communicable, worksite, school and child care restrictions can be removed at the discretion of the local public health authority; school restrictions can be removed by a school nurse or health care provider; and health care facility restrictions can be removed by the facility's infection control committee.
For Local Health Departments
Data
Once you click on the Tableau link, you will be able to select your disease of interest.
See Also