Posted on 10/26/2006 3:22:05 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON - Wild pigs may have spread deadly bacteria onto a California spinach field, sparking an outbreak that killed three people and sickened more than 200 others nationwide, investigators said Thursday.
State and federal investigators have narrowed their focus to the ranch, where boar trampled fences that had hemmed in a spinach field.
Samples taken from a wild pig, as well as from stream water and cattle on the ranch, have tested positive for the same strain of E. coli implicated in the outbreak, said Dr. Kevin Reilly of the California Department of Health Services.
Investigators continue to look at three other ranches in the areas in seeking the source of the contaminated fresh spinach.
"We are not saying this is the source at this point," Reilly said of the ranch.
Reilly told reporters the outbreak appears to be over. It sickened 204 people in 26 states and one Canadian province, he said.
Wild pigs are one "real clear vehicle" that could explain how E. coli spread from cattle on the ranch to the spinach field less than a mile away, Reilly said. The pigs could have tracked the bacteria into the field or spread it through their droppings, he said.
Investigators also are looking at runoff, flooding, irrigation water, fertilizer and other wildlife, including deer, as possible sources.
Investigators first recovered the same strain of bacteria earlier this month from three cattle manure specimens collected on the ranch. On Thursday, Reilly said the strain had been isolated from six other samples collected on the ranch, including from cattle.
The finds mark the first time that investigators have identified a possible source for any of the multiple E. coli outbreaks linked to the heavily agricultural area.
Reilly refused to give a location for the ranch, other than to say it's in a valley in the area of San Benito and Monterey counties.
Investigators have taken roughly 750 samples from the four ranches. They've found generic E. coli on all four ranches - the bug is commonly found in cattle - but turned up the particular strain involved in the outbreak on only one.
Wild-eyed pigs...?
NOTE TO SELF: Make sure that the bacon is thoroughly cooked before putting it on my spinach salad.
Thanks for posting this. When the contaminated spinach story first hit the news many xenophobes here on FR were convinced that the contamination was due to illegals pooping in the fields.
Son of Hogzilla...
Can't help but wonder if biosolids is being used on these crops.
Porcine poop ping.....
a whole litter of Helen Thomases?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/04/national/main2062251.shtml
"Since E. coli is found in animal and human feces, state and federal inspectors trying to pinpoint the source of contamination have focused on irrigation water, fertilization methods, worker hygiene, and the proximity of fields to livestock."
From another Internet source
"The 2 bags were packaged at the same plant, on the same shift and the same day. One bag was found in Utah and the other in New Mexico. The plant is owned by Natural Selection Foods of San Juan Bautista. The company supplies Dole and more than 20 other brands."
Livestock and wild pigs have never, never contributed to political parties. Ever.
They just make up a large chunk of both political parties.
Sounds about as phoney as the tree branch in rural Ohio that blackened most of the NE USA a couple of years ago.
And what ever became of the anthrax investigation? Wasn't that finally found to have been sent by a disgruntled treefrog in rural South Carolina?
===
Wild-eyed pigs?
Hillary was there, spreading her usual crap.
What about human beings not being sanitary or not bothering to go to a porta potty when out in the field?
He only says, “Good fences make good neighbours.”
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
“Why do they make good neighbours? Isn’t it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
And the PIGS are soooo much to blame that the friggin' FBI shows up?
RIIiiiiiiiight....!
Hey Joe, maybe the pigs caught the disease from the illegal's poop. Or do you just like calling opponents of illegal immigration "xenophobes"??
Doesn't this sound convincing? NOT! Notice how they want to present this as fact yet the word "could" is used multiple times. What a joke. When they FIND the reason then I'll consider believing what they have to say. Otherwise I will view this finding with "Closed Eyes".
'Wild-eyed pigs' and spinach hemmed in by a fence. Journalists.
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