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

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

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