Any animal or human may carry the E. coli germ in their intestines.

Animal or human feces also may carry the bacteria. Animals and humans can both be infected by E.Coli, but it will not harm the animals. As well as animals, plants, meat, milk, juice, and many other foods can all be infected with E.Coli and can spread the bacteria.

E.Coli is a rod-shaped bacterium that causes bad cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and in worst cases, liver damage. The symptoms are the worst in children and elderly people. E.Coli is most common during the summer and is very contagious.

E.Coli forms in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms and can contaminate any milk , meat, plant, animal, or human. Most commonly, E.Coli contaminates animal or human feces and spreads very quickly.

E.Coli spreads from animal to person when we eat an animal that is infected with E.Coli or when a crop field is sprayed with infected feces and eaten by people. E.Coli is spread from person to person when an infected human does not wash their hands often enough and transfers their bacteria to another person. (both people would be sick) It can also be given to people when a ready-to-eat food is contaminated by raw meat, meat is not cooked thoroughly, or milk or juice is not pasteurized.

When an animal, such as beef cattle, contain E.Coli bacteria, anyone that touches the animal, its milk or meat, its feces, or any other animals it infected, will get infected, also. That would include the farmer, anyone who goes near the cattle, the butcher, and anyone who eats or drinks any of the animals milk When a farmer grows a field of crops that we eat, and sprays it with animal feces as fertilizer, there is a chance the feces are infected or meat. with E.Coli. If they are, the crops are then infected with E.Coli from the feces. Anyone that now eats them is infected with E.Coli.

The symptoms of E.Coli last for about a week and show up right away. The symptoms are cramps that suddenly start, diarrhea, bloody stool, vomiting, dehydration, and tiredness. In the worst case, E.Coli can cause liver damage. Remember, E.Coli is very contagious and spreads quickly!

There is no special treatment, except drinking a lot of water, washing hands often, preventing it from being passed to anyone else, and watching for complications. Don't take medicine to stop diarrhea unless your doctor tells you to. This medicine would keep your intestines from getting rid of the E. coli germ. If you are seriously dehydrated, you might need to go to the hospital to have fluids put into your veins with an IV.

The biggest complication of E.Coli is liver and kidney damage. In some cases it causes death from the dehydration symptom. This is rare, though.

-Wash hands thoroughly and often, especially after using the bathroom.
-Cook meat completely and thoroughly. -Only drink pasteurized juice and milk. -Keep raw meats separated from ready-to-eat foods. -Wash foods (such as fruits and vegetables) before cooking and/or eating. -Dont swallow pool, lake, or river water. -Do not eat sprouts. (broccoli, Brussels, etc.)

I think the E.Coli outbreak started at the three main food stands, which infected anyone who ate from them, and it was passed from person to person, stand to stand. I think they should be more careful next time, and make sure the stands coming in are safe and the stands assure that their food is safe.