Skip to main content
Rhode Island Department of Health Rhode Island Department of Health

 

 

Program Activities
Office of Communicable Diseases
Room 106
Phone: (401) 222-2577
Fax: (401) 222-2488
711 (RI Relay)
Email

 

 

Office of Communicable Diseases

E.coli O157:H7

Information on the disease and its prevention
(forwarded to CDC web site).

How Can I Avoid E.coli O157:H7?

  • Always wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
  • Always wash hands with soap and water before eating.
  • Drink only pasteurized milk products and fruit juices.
  • Eat only fruits and vegetables that have been washed well.
  • Always wash your hands before and after preparing food.
  • Wash everything that raw meat touches including all cutting boards, utensils, bowls, and counter tops with hot, soapy water.
  • Use a separate cutting board to prepare raw meats.
  • Cook all ground meat thoroughly (particularly ground beef). Ground beef should be cooked to at least 160° F (a temperature that will kill the bacteria). If the temperature cannot be checked, cook ground beef until the juices run clear, and the inside is gray or brown throughout (not pink).
  • Use a clean plate for cooked meat. Never return cooked meat back to the same plate the raw meat was on.
  • If you are served an undercooked hamburger in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking. Due to the risk of HUS, children 12 and under may not be served undercooked hamburger in Rhode Island.
  • Click here for additional food safety tips.

What Are E. coli O157:H7 Rates in Rhode Island pdf

Who can I contact at the Department of Health about E.coli O157:H7?

Call the Office of Communicable Diseases at 401-222-2577.

 

 

 

Highlights

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view or download PDF documents. If you have difficulty with a PDF download, please try these solutions