ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An E. coli outbreak linked to events hosted by a catering company has risen to 106 cases as of Wednesday, with two of those people developing a rare but serious complication, health officials said.
The events under investigation by the St. Louis County Health Department include two school band events, two funerals, and a veterans event, all catered by Andre's Banquets and Catering between Nov. 6-9. More than half of the cases are connected with Rockwood Summit High School.
The health department said Thursday that hospitals had notified them two people have since developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a rare but serious disease that can occur as a complication of an E. coli infection. The disease affects the kidneys and blood clotting system and can lead to kidney failure.
According to the Mayo Clinic, HUS is most commonly caused by E. coli bacteria, and though anyone can get the syndrome, it is most commonly seen in children. Prompt treatment leads to a full recovery for most people.
Three parents of high school students are suing the catering company. A fourth lawsuit was filed by an adult who ate at one of the events and later tested positive by for E. coli.
On Tuesday, the health department said during all five events, people who got sick had eaten salad provided by the catering company.
State health workers removed salad from Andre's South, the company's venue on Telegraph Road, on Monday. Test results were expected by the end of the week.
Andre's owner John Armengol Jr. has remained adamant that the catering business was not the source of the outbreak, and the health department said the business is cooperating with the investigation.
Reached by phone Tuesday, Armengol said all of his employees have been tested and cleared of E. coli. Armengol said he would provide a statement after the lettuce results come back.
