E.coli outbreak in two states linked

Health experts have announced that outbreaks of E.coli in Michigan and Ohio are linked by a food retailer.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that the contamination, which is estimated to have made over 550 people ill, is caused by ground beef.

It is reported that health authorities are struggling to find the exact source of the outbreak, however more than half of the confirmed cases in Michigan have allegedly purchased beef from Kroger Food Stores.

Megan Glynn, spokeswoman for Kroger, told Reuters in an email: "We were notified today that E.coli illnesses reported in Michigan and Ohio have been linked to products purchased in some of our stores in those states.

"We purchase our ground beef from major suppliers in the industry and we are working with federal, state and local agencies to identify the supplier."

The Hamilton county health department recently warned the public that the White River had showed high levels of E.coli in its water during tests, reports the Indianapolis Star.