An additional case of E. coli 0157:H7 linked to the XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta., was confirmed today, bringing the total to 16 people becoming sick from the virus.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials said an individual from Quebec is recovering from the same E. coli strain linked to the packing plant.
Paul Mayers, associate vice-president of programs with CFIA, said genetic fingerprinting has allowed the agency to link the illness to the plant.
“We know there now have been 16 confirmed cases. This is the same E. coli strain recovered at the plant. The laboratory evidence is very clear on that,” said Mayers in a news conference.
Dr. Frank Plummer, the CFIA’s chief science officer, said the genetic fingerprint of the E-coli 0157:H7 linked to the XL Foods illnesses has never been seen before in Canada or the United States.
“It is pretty unique and we are very confident it came from meat that was contaminated with E. coli at the XL plant,” said Plummer.
