E. coli Outbreak at Seattle’s Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar

Summary

Public Health is investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121 (also known as STEC). 

Based on information collected, both people likely became sick after eating food from Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar. Both people ate foods that could have made them sick, including raw or undercooked beef, or other foods that may have been contaminated by raw or undercooked beef. Even though we think this is the most likely source of how both people got sick, we do not know for certain. We are still investigating how the beef might have been contaminated with STEC.

This investigation is ongoing.

Illnesses

Since July 24, 2024, Public Health has learned about two people who got sick during July 12 and July 17. Both people had symptoms of STEC, including diarrhea (often bloody), stomach cramping, nausea, and vomiting. We have not found any Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar restaurant workers sick with symptoms of STEC.

Public Health actions

Disease Investigators talked with the two sick people to try and find what could have made them sick with STEC and prevent ongoing spread of STEC. On July 25, Environmental Health Investigators visited Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar. Investigators identified potential risk factors, including poor handwashing facilities, improperly cleaned food processing equipment, and improper separation of raw and ready-to-eat foods. Investigators provided education about preventing the spread of STEC — including proper handwashing, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, preventing cross contamination between raw meat and ready-to-eat food during food preparation, and making sure restaurant staff know to stay home when feeling sick with symptoms related to STEC. When restaurant staff have STEC, they need further testing before going back to work to make sure they cannot give STEC to someone else. No sick restaurant staff were identified at the time of the restaurant inspections.

Environmental Health Investigators revisited the restaurant on July 29, to make sure that proper compliance with cleaning, disinfection, and correct handwashing practices are in place.

Laboratory testing

Two people who became sick had testing that was positive for the same strain of STEC (O121).

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.