Confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli linked to Ohio University's Athens campus have nearly tripled in just two days, climbing from four to at least 11 as of Nov. 13. Health officials say every identified case so far involves an OU student, and they're warning the outbreak likely isn't over.
The Athens City-County Health Department first announced four confirmed cases on Nov. 11, then reported the higher count two days later, according to the Columbus Dispatch. All of the cases identified so far involve students on the university's Athens campus, health officials told the paper. The health department is now working with university officials to identify possible exposures, determine whether the cases share a common source, and assess any ongoing risk, though no source has been established.
Health Commissioner Warns More Cases Likely Coming
Athens County Health Commissioner Dr. Carl Ortman doesn't think the outbreak has peaked. “I anticipate that this is not the end of what we're seeing,” Ortman told WOUB. The jump from four to 11 confirmed cases in roughly 48 hours underscores how quickly the situation has escalated since the initial Nov. 11 alert, when the health department was already trying to determine whether those first four cases shared a common source and whether a persistent risk remained, per an earlier report from The Post.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can spread through contaminated food, water, animal contact, or person-to-person contact, which is part of why pinning down a single source has proven difficult. Symptoms typically include severe stomach cramps, potentially bloody diarrhea, vomiting, or a low fever. They usually start within three to four days after exposure but can take as long as 10 days to appear, according to the Dispatch's report.
University Inspecting Dining Facilities as Students Seek Support
Ohio University's food-safety personnel have already conducted walkthroughs of campus culinary facilities to review food-safety procedures and sanitation practices, The Post reported in its coverage of the outbreak. The university has also pointed affected students toward its Office of the Dean of Students, where they can seek isolation housing, academic support, or other related accommodations while they recover, the same report noted.
The health department is urging students and the broader Athens community to monitor their own health closely and seek medical care if symptoms develop. Officials specifically flagged several warning signs that warrant a doctor's visit: diarrhea lasting more than two days, especially if it's watery; blood in urine or stool; severe abdominal cramps or stomach pain; frequent vomiting or trouble keeping fluids down; signs of dehydration; and unusual fatigue, pale skin, or easy bruising.
For now, prevention remains the primary message coming from health officials. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the restroom and before eating or preparing food can help prevent the infection from spreading further, the health department said, and officials are also urging anyone currently experiencing symptoms to stay home. With the case count already nearly tripling in under a week and investigators still working to pin down how the cases are connected, Athens residents and OU students are being told to stay alert as the inquiry continues.
