Officials investigating after several Northeast Tennessee students become ill with E. coli infection

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WCYB) — Officials are investigating after several elementary school students in Northeast Tennessee recently became ill with an E. coli infection.

Students from Washington and Sullivan counties visited an animal exhibit on September 26-27. Since then, several cases of illness caused by Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli have been reported.

Here is the full statement from the Regional Medical Officer for the Northeast Regional Health Office, Dr. David Kirschke, MD:

The Northeast Regional Health Office and the Sullivan County Health Department are investigating several cases of illness caused by Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) among elementary school children in Washington and Sullivan counties. These illnesses occurred after some classes visited an animal exhibit at the fairgrounds on September 26 and 27. We are actively working to identify the source of these infections, including performing environmental testing at the site. The exhibit ended on September 27. Information on staying healthy while visiting animal exhibits is available on the CDC website.