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Regional News Roundup: Tennessee hospital says several children test positive for E. coli

This 2006 colorized scanning electron micrograph image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a strain of the Escherichia coli bacteria. E. coli is one of the germs that can cause sepsis. Once misleadingly called blood poisoning or a bloodstream infection, sepsis occurs when the body goes into overdrive while fighting an infection, sort of friendly fire that injures its own tissue. The cascade of inflammation and other damage leads to shock, amputations, organ failure or death. (Janice Carr/CDC via AP)
This 2006 colorized scanning electron micrograph image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a strain of the Escherichia coli bacteria. E. coli is one of the germs that can cause sepsis. Once misleadingly called blood poisoning or a bloodstream infection, sepsis occurs when the body goes into overdrive while fighting an infection, sort of friendly fire that injures its own tissue. The cascade of inflammation and other damage leads to shock, amputations, organ failure or death. (Janice Carr/CDC via AP) This 2006 colorized scanning electron micrograph image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a strain of the Escherichia coli bacteria. E. coli is one of the germs that can cause sepsis. Once misleadingly called blood poisoning or a bloodstream infection, sepsis occurs when the body goes into overdrive while fighting an infection, sort of friendly fire that injures its own tissue. The cascade of inflammation and other damage leads to shock, amputations, organ failure or death. (Janice Carr/CDC via AP)

By Wire Reports 3 min read

Hospital: Several children test positive for E. coli

KNOXVILLE – A hospital in Tennessee said it has seen nearly 10 children under the age of 4 test positive for E. coli.

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Childs said four children were being treated for kidney failure.

The Knox County Health Department told news outlets it issued an alert Tuesday, saying most of the ill children had consumed raw milk from French Broad Farm in Mascot. The department said that for now, people shouldn’t consume raw milk or any other unpasteurized products from the cow-share dairy.

Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan said drinking raw milk is a risk because bacteria like E. coli cannot be seen with the naked eye. Buchanan said roughly 1,800 E. coli bacteria can sit on the head of a pin, and about 10 could make someone sick.