E. coli infects 14 people in Ohio

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The number of people infected by E. coli bacteria in northeast Ohio rose to 14 Tuesday, and a health official said children petting animals at the Medina County Fair seems likely to be at least one source of the contamination.

"As far as we know at the moment, the common denominator seems to be petting animals at the fair and then eating or drinking _ children putting their hands in their mouths without washing," Medina County Health Commissioner David Baldwin said.

The Ohio Department of Health on Monday said there were six confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in northeast Ohio. The health department increased the number to 14 on Tuesday afternoon.

The people who were infected are between 15 months of age and 67.

E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramping and, in the worst cases, kidney failure. It can be spread through contaminated food or drinking water, contact with cattle manure or through person-to-person contact.

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