E. Coli Question (Please Read Below)?

Question

I am doing a science question and I was wondering if you could please answer both of the following questions.
1. Where (in the world or in the U.S.) is E. Coli most commonly found?
2. When/Where are the most recent outbreaks of E. Coli?

Answer 1

1. Where (in the world or in the U.S.) is E. Coli most commonly found? (It is found all over the world since Escherichia Coli is a normal flora bacteria in every human's large intestine)

2. When/Where are the most recent outbreaks of E. Coli? (E-coli outbreaks happen when ever and where ever there is poor hygiene, not washing hands after using the bathroom, after heavy rains over-fill sanitary system and raw effluent is forced into the rivers and lakes... high e-coli counts cause the closing of local beaches and parks due the health risk.)

Most recent outbreaks (source of e-coli in food system) have been in California with Spinach and other vegetable crops picked by migrant workers or fertilized with manure. Not all strains are disease causers but the ones that do can cause severe diarrhea or Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome [blood in urine] We still use the presence even of non-pathogenic strains as an indicator of more infectious strains. All public water supply systems in the USA and Canada adjust the level of Chlorine to the water based on E-coli levels found in the water prior to sending it to your home through the pipes.

Answer 2

Hi. Everyone has E. Coli in their digestive tract. Outbreaks are based on strain. See the following : http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=E.+Coli&gwp=13

Answer 3

Most common in the bowel of the human body. The pathogenic strains have occurred in Washington State recently I think.