Harley Moon, professor with the Veterinary Medicine Research Institute at ISU, said the report must be reviewed extensively before it can be accepted. The bacteria was previously thought to affect only 1 to 3 percent of U.S. cattle. Improved detection is just one of the many keys to unlocking the problem of E. coli , Moon said. Likewise, the problem will be solved by a variety of players, from the farmer to the consumer. Consumers currently hold most of the cards when it comes to preventing human illness from E. coli.
People can avoid the disease by thoroughly cooking meat, especially ground beef.
Farmers also may be able to play a role, although Moon cautioned that steps beef producers can take have not yet been proven. Anything that improves hygiene should help. The same is true of feed. Moon recommended keeping feed storage areas free of birds and rodents, and regularly cleaning feed bunks and storage areas. He cautioned against using the same loader bucket to handle feed and manure.