In article ,
wrote:

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:

Depends which E. coli you are talking about. Many strains are highly
pathogenic; I wouldn't like 0157 in me, for example, immunosuppressed or
not. More info here if you don't mind being too bored:
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/e.coli.html

For "highly", read "slightly"!

I wouldn't worry about 0157 - indeed, I may have it, for all I know
to the contrary - as it is dangerous only to the very young, very
old and immunosuppressed. If you look at the reference you gave,
most of the pathogenic forms are described as dangerous to infants.

In the Odwall Apple juice case an 18 month old infant died. In the Dole
spinach case, 3 octagenarians died, and in the latest, Nestle Toll House
Refrigerated Cookie Dough, no one died. However, it is reported that e.
coli O157:H7 really opens the sluices at both ends. Maybe not deadly,
but not a walk in the park, either.

The FDA suggested that you "contact your health care professional
immediately, if you or your family have recently eaten recalled cookie
dough and have had stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea, with or
without bloody stools."

'Nuff said.

All forms (even the symbiotic ones) are dangerous if they grow in
the wrong place, which is one of the reasons you need immunity to
a wide range of them.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
--

- Billy

There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who
learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and
find out for themselves.
Will Rogers

http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm
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