There is a mystery illness of sorts going around Hydro and parts of Custer and Caddo counties. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is trying to get to the bottom of it.
There is no mystery as to what the illness is. It is an E.coli infection caused by Campylobacter and Shigatoxin. The mystery is where it came from and how it is spreading.
To do that, the department is sending out a survey to residents, sent by emergency alert systems. The hope is to find cases not reported to a health care provider and pinpoint similarities among those who have been sick. The information is secure and will only be used for finding the cause of the illness.
The outbreak was first noted in Hydro and Weatherford in late October. The state department of health and local health departments are working to test and survey those who have presented with the illness.
Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and muscle aches. Those with the symptoms should see their care provider and might want to ask for tests for bacterial causes. Anyone with these symptoms should remain at home, other than seeking medical care, for at least 24 hours after the symptoms subside.
Spread of this type of illness is usually through eating undercooked meat, contaminated milk or water or handling raw pork and poultry without washing hands and surfaces.
For more information contact the Caddo County Health Department at (405) 2472507.