At least 15 people sick in Minnesota from ground beef linked to E. coli recall

At least 15 people in Minnesota have become ill with E. coli poisoning linked to a nationwide recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially contaminated beef, federal health officials said.

Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota agriculture officials reported several illnesses and discovered a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections.

So far, no disease has been reported outside of Minnesota, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. People got sick between November 2nd and November 10th. The investigation is ongoing.

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in the environment, including water, food, and the intestines of people and animals. There are many types of harmless E. coli, but a few types can make people seriously ill.

Symptoms usually appear quickly, within a day or two of eating the contaminated food. These can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. The infection can cause a type of serious kidney damage, especially in children younger than 5 years old. E. coli poisoning in young children requires immediate medical attention.