More E. coli cases linked to restaurant in North Bay

The number of confirmed and suspected cases of E. coli poisoning in northern Ontario has jumped to 131, health officials announced Friday.

The total number of cases of E. coli O157:H7 rose from 93 on Thursday, but cases appear to be tapering off in North Bay, Dr. Catherine Whiting, the area's medical officer of health said.

"I think it's plateaued," Whiting said, noting the incubation period for the bacteria ends early next week. "But mixed into this are secondary cases . I expect we're going to see more of those as the outbreak winds down."

Secondary cases could occur if someone contracted the infection at the restaurant and then spreads it to a family member by failing to properly wash their hands, Whiting said.

E. coli O157:H7 is the same strain that affected the town of Walkerton, Ont. in May 2000, when seven people died and about 2,500 others fell ill after drinking contaminated water.

People with confirmed severe gastro-enteritis had a 30 per cent increased risk of high blood pressure or kidney damage, said Dr. Bill Clark, who has been following the health of Walkerton residents.

"The good news is, if you identify the silent complications, with treatment, as we did in Walkerton, these people will stabilize and won't progress to long-term complications," Clark told CBC News.

Clark suggested that those affected in northern Ontario should also have simple kidney function and blood pressure measurements for two years.

The medical community in North Bay will put Clarke's findings to good use, Whiting said.

Meanwhile, health units in Sudbury, Timmins and Temiskaming are investigating cases of illness in people who recently traveled through North Bay.

The Harvey's on Algonquin Avenue in North Bay is located at a busy highway junction, Whiting said, which may explain why people in other communities are falling ill.

Lab tests have confirmed that 22 of the cases are linked to an E. coli outbreak at the Harvey's location.

The restaurant was closed Sunday evening. Health officials believe it is the only source in the outbreak. They have not traced it to specific foods served at the restaurant, such as hamburgers or toppings.