The department has not released the identities of those individuals. Nancy Rabalais, public health environmentalist for the Forrest County Health Department, said Hattiesburg probably has no need for concern. The health department considers an outbreak more than one case. An estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur each year. Infection can also result from drinking unpasteurized milk and after drinking or swimming in sewage-contaminated water.
Most strains live in the intestines of healthy animals and humans and usually are harmless.
Marilyn Keene, a registered nurse and epidemiologist at the State Department of Health in Hattiesburg, said kidney disease is one of the most severe complications of the infection. Keene agreed there is little reason for alarm in the Hattiesburg area. The MSDH press release said Mississippi began counting E. coli cases in 1994. In 2000, case reports have totaled 18. She said many of the same symptoms occur in all foodborne illnesses and individuals won't know right away what illness they have.