Georgia confirms 17 sickened in multistate E. coli outbreak

ATLANTA (AP) A state agency says at least 17 people in Georgia have been sickened in an outbreak of E. coli infections affecting five U.S. states.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said in a news release Wednesday that the number of E. coli cases is expected to increase.

A total of 96 E. coli infections have been confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working with state health officials in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. No deaths have been reported.

Health officials have not linked the infections to any particular food item, grocery stores or restaurants. People often become sick two to five days after eating contaminated food. Officials say the best preventative measures are hand washing, cooking meats thoroughly and washing all fruits and vegetables.