The St. Louis County Department of Public Health is reportedly nearing the completion of its investigation into an E. coli outbreak that has seen cases arise not only locally but in six other states. According to FOX 2 Now, whole genome sequencing performed on the E. coli bacteria found that a local caterer is connected to nearly a quarter of the confirmed cases.

Last month's outbreak began to quickly manifest following off-campus events catered or hosted by André’s Banquets and Catering, leading to 115 identified cases and 13 hospitalizations, as the KSDK reported. As of December 3, two individuals still remain hospitalized, with three diagnoses of the life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a direct result of the bacteria's toxins entering the bloodstream.

Despite the connections made through genetic sequencing, the source of the outbreak is still under investigation. The owner of André’s Banquets and Catering has maintained the company's innocence throughout the probe. "We have said all along that it was unfair to name André's before the lettuce was tested before the investigation was complete. We look forward to St. Louis County finishing its work and finding the source of our local outbreak.," Ed Rhode, a spokesperson for André's, told Spectrum News. While lettuce from the caterer initially tested negative for E. coli, efforts to definitely locate the outbreak's origin continue.

Community cooperation has been crucial to the health department's ongoing investigation, with many surveys completed by those who became ill. "We are immensely grateful for the cooperation of affected individuals and families, particularly those who participated in surveys. This data has been essential to our progress and confidence in these findings," stated the health department in a Spectrum News report. Although the investigation is ongoing, the cross-state link suggests a broader issue than initially thought, with final conclusions still pending.