As federal and state health inspectors continue to search for the exact origin of E. coli bacteria in California, a local woman is being tested for the potentially deadly disease.
"A case is under investigation," Monie Smith, public information officer with South Central District Health in Twin Falls, said Monday. "We're looking at several potential diagnoses for that."
Smith said it could be several days before lab results are returned.
"If it comes back (positive), then we do a specific genetic test to see if it matches the outbreak strain," she said. With that, "we're well into next week."
Smith said E. coli O157:H7 is a "reportable disease," meaning if lab results show its presence, it must be reported to state authorities.
On average, symptoms from E. coli O157:H7 infection develop within three to four days of eating contaminated food, with a range of one to 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who have eaten fresh spinach or salad blends with spinach and feel well after that time period do not need to see a health-care provider, according to the CDC.
After a nationwide E. coli scare was linked to fresh, bagged spinach, multiple produce companies selling spinach under various brands have been recalling their leafy greens, and area markets are keeping most spinach off their shelves.
"It's all been pulled," said Donna Eggers, Albertsons supermarket spokeswoman. "We pulled every kind just out of an abundance of caution."
Atkinsons' Market, which operates three stores in the Wood River Valley, is also weeding out spinach, "given that they've not been able to identify, in total yet, the problem," said Chip Atkinson, a company owner and executive.
The deadly strain of bacteria has been linked to bagged spinach grown in three California counties: Monterey County, San Benito County and Santa Clara County. The CDC says spinach grown in other areas is safe, but often it's hard for consumers to tell where produce is grown.
Fresh spinach grown outside those counties is considered safe, as is frozen and canned spinach, according to the CDC.
As of Monday, 175 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported to CDC from 25 states.
One adult in Wisconsin has died, while two deaths among suspect cases have been reported. Suspect cases have not been confirmed to be the outbreak strain.
Idaho health authorities are also investigating a suspect case in a 2-year-old child who died on Sept. 20 and reportedly had recently eaten spinach. Maryland is investigating a suspect case in an elderly woman who died Sept. 13.
Eggers said the company does not release dollar figures on the outbreak's impact but said "it's been substantial."
Other types of greens such as lettuce are taking spinach's place on the shelves until further notice, Eggers said.
"It just depends on the FDA, the investigation and the manufacturers," she said.
