Disease investigators at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have identified a total of 49 people so far who became ill with diarrhea after swimming at Lake Nokomis. The total includes the three initial lab-confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) announced Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019.
The cases include both children and adults, with about 20% of cases younger than 10 years old. In all cases, people became ill after swimming at the lake between July 16 and Aug. 11. No one has been hospitalized.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) officials said the Nokomis beaches will remain closed for the rest of the swimming season out of an abundance of caution. Health officials said they would need to see no illnesses reported for at least 16 days (two incubation periods of 8 days) before they could say there was no longer a risk of STEC spreading through water at the beaches.
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of STEC infection ”“ diarrhea (often bloody), stomach cramps, no or low-grade fever ”“ should see a health care provider.
Health officials remind all Minnesotans that anyone who has diarrhea should not go swimming in any body of water.
