LYNDEN — Health officials say 17 people have lab-confirmed cases of E. coli and another 15 have symptoms of the illness after attending a Whatcom County dairy festival last week.
The Whatcom County Health Department reported four of those with confirmed cases have been hospitalized with E. Coli since the Milk Makers Fest at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden.
Those sickened by E. coli bacteria can develop symptoms including severe stomach cramps, often-bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
The health department is trying to determine a specific source of the illness and officials are interviewing people to determine if there was a common food or water source or activity they shared.
The main sources of E. coli are contaminated food, contaminated water and contact with livestock.
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