Posted: November 1st, 2011 - 10:33am
Source: stltoday.com

An investigation of suspected food-borne illnesses is turning up more signs of E. coli in an outbreak that has sickened about two dozen people in the St. Louis area.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Sunday that, so far, 24 of 34 specimens examined have tested positive for shiga toxin, a byproduct of E. coli. Completing the tests could take several more days.
E. coli are a group of bacteria that can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. The illness can be spread through consumption of contaminated food.