Health officials investigate local case of E. coli infection

" Why Okay did you bring Jerry Kearns up in this thread? He is a friend of mine! Are you trying to cause him problems in the election! Why don't you stick to the issue at hand! Better yet if you can't say something good don't say anything at all! "

" I heard on the radio that a 6th case has been confirmed. They do seem to have some wrong info though, they said there had been hopitalized. There have actually been 3 that I know of, the two the Hawk Eye article talked about and a 7th grade girl from Keokuk...she's in Iowa City as well--has been since last Tuesday. The radio broadcast also stated that all the 6 cases were reportedly from unpasturized appple cidar.

Seem like the cases are still coming in and the Health department doesn't let the cat out of the bag. Tha'ts NOT cool. What do we need the health department for if they aren't going to protect the people when they know the cause. "

" WHAT NOW OAKY ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY YOU HAVE A SPLIT PERSONALITY GIVE US A BREAK. YOU GOT REALLY MAD OR DRUNK OR BOTH AND ARE NOW SORRY FOR WHAT YOU SAID. AGAIN AS PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT AND FROM READING YOUR POSTS MYSELF BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE A FACT THAT I READ THEM, YOU STILL HAVE SAID NOT ONE WORD OF COMPASSION FOR THIS CHILDREN. "

" This is just too funny! The ignorance and the arrogance of some people that post here is just astounding. What is even worse is the people who are so passionate about the subject actually respond to the really dumb posts. Obviously the employment rate is NOT going up in Keokuk as there are those who have nothing better to do than show their most prominent feature to the community.

Serious note, sorry to here about these kids, I don't know if you really know what it is like to be infected with E-Coli but it is not a pretty sight. It is a very painful and agonizing ordeal. Wish nothing but the best and that they recover from this incident. I hope they find the source and fix it so no one else suffers in the future. "

" It seems we have two people posting under Okay. How cute. I will comment on that article in the Hawkeye. If I didn't misread it, did it state that the public is not required to know about where these children got this from? If so that is some grade a BS. "

" To Sceptic (should be spelled Skeptic?) post on 10-17-08
#1&2 Consumers who may have frequented this business have a right to know if they're having symptoms and have been infected--- so they can seek treatment. Ask your local public health personnel.
# 3 Anytime you have 2 or more infected people, there's a risk!
#4. E-Coli is NOT a VIRUS. It's a BACTERIA.

Before you go acting all intelligent when you post. MAKE sure you have your information correct! And learn to spell your nickname so you don't look so stupid to begin with. "

" From: " Read the Burlington Hawk Eye"

I'm a little confused as to why you seem to be jumping on me? I was not responding to anything you wrote. I was letting people who are interested in knowing what is going on that the Burlington Hawk Eye had a really good article interviewing the parents of 2 children who are currently in Iowa City. I didn't mean to offend you in anyway! I don't need a response back from you as I was not talking to you directly in the first place. "

" This thread is kewl.

Almost as kewl as a rocket slide. "

" My gosh OKAY nobody has posted more about this issue than you and MOST of what you have posted has nothing to do about the issue!!!!!!!! And one of your latest posts makes it clear when you said and I quote(there's nothing I could or would do for them) refering to these very sick children that you don't care at all about these sick children!!!!!!! Then you go on about how all you care about is your own!!!!!!!!! I cannot understand your lack of concern for these VERY SICK children!!!!!!!!!!! Also in one of your last posts you say(see the three posts above my oridnal one). CAN you since you are SMARTER than all the rest of us tell me what the word ORIDNAL means?????? My only real concern which YOU (because you only take care of your own) can never even mention is I HOPE this very sick children will be alright!!! "

" To No Heart.

'You sound' brought me up in this article. He made comments about what I posted on another article about Kearns, which has nothing to do with this one. I responded, and immediately people assumed I was talking about this article and this mother, when I stated not believing people when they use friends as sources. I was not referring to this lady or this article at all in the first part of my response to "you sound". But I got attacked for being uncaring and calling this lady a liar. I will admit however that I should of kept this on topic. Yes I should of just let those little childish digs go,(see the three posts above my oridinal one) but I didn't, and from there it turned into how I was so uncaring, heartless, a whiner, etc. etc. But I guess we all can go around and around about this. In the end I know my comments were not aimed toward this mother and her poor child so I guess that is all that matters. "

" TO READ THE BURLINGTON HAWK EYE. I guess you people just don't get it. FACT my children are not SICK.


"I don't know the children that are so there is nothing I could or would do for them." People need to learn that they need to take care of their OWN. I do take care of my own that is all that I am RESPONSIBLE for.

FACT if you other BLEEDING HEARTS want to wail and moan about the sick children that is your business. It is my business to take care of mine, and if that makes me COLD HEARTED than you are just going to have to deal with it, and that is a FACT. "

" OKAY you are the one who cannot comprehend. Nobody said you said an unkind word they said you never said a word of kindness or concern for these people and their children. Nobody said you called the mother a liar they asked if you were saying the mother was lieing, there is a difference that your superior mind should be able to deduct. Read the Burlington newspaper and see just how sick some of these children are. CAN"T you say just ONE word of concern! But you summed it up well it wouldn't help to say something like I am praying for them so why say it(that is not your exact words but the meaning of them)! Somebody said you were heartless they were wrong you have no heart, and that is a FACT! So go back to worrying about your pitiful self! I can proudly say if one of your children had gotten sick I would show concern for them also! Even though you would not allow yourself to come down off your mountain top to do the same in return! "

" A story came out today in the Burlington Hawk Eye about 2 of the children who are in Iowa city and had/have kidney failure from the E. Coli and other complications as well. The 7 year old is from Basco and the 5 year old from Donnellson. The parents of these children speak out in this article. It will put to rest some of the rumors. I can't imagine why the Daily Gate didn't do an article except for as others report on here "poor investigative reporting."

Please get a copy if you are interested in more information. "

" Its useless to talk to people who don't have the capacity to comprehend written text. Point out where I said one unkind word about this child or mother. YOU CANT I merely responded to other posts, which I am free to do. I responded to posts about how I called this child's mother a liar, which I never said.


To visitor from out of town, Craig H and Rumor. What uncaring thing did I say about this mother and child? Please I would like to know. Again I never called this person a liar, nor will I. I am sure you and the rest of the people responding with attacks are educated. So I can assume you can comprehend what I have written. I was responding originally to "you sound" bringing me up in a thread I had nothing to do with. You do not know me, so don't pretend like you do.. I do have children of my own, and relatives that have attended the pumpkin patch in the last few weeks. And do feel that they need to release more information because of the dangerous situation E. Coli causes. I also feel that the health department is not telling the whole story. As I said in my first post:

"Anyways, back on the actual topic in this article. I personally would like to know all that is known by all involved in this article. If this is true, it needs to be reported in detail. With FACTS. Some of us would like to know since, this can be spread in certain situations. " Sounds to me that I am wondering what is going on. And do seem to care. For instance if it was from Kathys pumpkin patch why was "learning for life girls" allowed to attend? I would like to know because if it was from there, then allowing these girls to attend would be a insane. By the way neither of my nieces are sick, and they did partake in the cider."

I also pointed out that Kathys pumpkin patch being shut down was just a rumor, from what was posted by All of you need to watch the news closer. Now if this was all just rumored and this was never a possible source, don't you think it would be wrong to point fingers at this place, and ruin any business they might get?


As it pertains to me being a "whiner" hardly. I am just responding to people who have difficulty comprehending written text. Its not whining its called defending myself. I will be waiting for somebody to point out where I said one unkind word about this family. Going to be waiting awhile though. Just because I didn't give the "Prayers are with you" line doesn't mean I do not care. It just means that I personally do not think anything I say will help this poor child get better. "

" You know Okay this RUMOR said to a FACT who told EVIDENCE who heard it from FACTUAL who told STATED sounds alot like, a FRIEND told his Father who told a GIRL who told ANOTHER FRIEND of a FRIEND that......... If you are going to tell other people not to go ON and on about nothing why don't you practice what you preach........ Now all I care about is if any of the children effected are going to be alright, and at this time NOTHING(as you would capitalize it)matters and that is a FACT........... "

" (OKAY) I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUT YOU REMIND ME OF MY EX-HUSBAND. YOU ARE SUCH A (WHINER). WHY DON'T YOU STOP WHINING ABOUT BEING SO MISUNDERSTOOD AND SAY (ONE) KIND WORD ABOUT THIS CHILD AND THEIR FAMILY. "

" The concern OKAY should be the sick child, not whether you can impose your uncaring beliefs on everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why can't you show some support for the child !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The FACT as you like to put is a child is SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not that you can't have everybody bow down and worship your PERFECT LOGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I pray that this child gets better soon and that is the only thing anybody should be concerned about right now!!!!!!!!!! OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" Jackie why don't you comprehend instead of just reading my post. I never once said she was lying. I was responding to somebody attacking me for what I posted on ANOTHER ARTICLE. If you would actually take the time and READ what was written, in my original post, you might learn a thing or two on what I meant. Former resident might need to learn how to read as well. TELL me where I said she was lying, I commented on the RUMOR about the pumpkin patch being shut down, then I said A source needs to be found. So tell me please where I said she was lying. "

" It will come out soon I believe. It was not the area business but rather a traveling man that did cider demonstrations. He has been located and shut down according to the local health department. He was set up at the local business the first weekend of October. "

" AJD - it is more than a coincidence when there are now four people with confirmed e. coli, and three of which have said (and maybe the fourth too - I just don't know one way or the other) they visited the same place and drank the same cider on the same weekend. They have nothing else in common and did not even know each other before they were hospitalized. This is too big of a coincidence for me.

Just because a bunch of other people also drank it and didn't get ill does not mean anything. It affects everyone differently, and young children are especially vulnerable. Do some google research on it and you'll find that it's like anything else - you can be exposed to it and be just fine, and I could be exposed to it and end up in the hospital. Thankfully, most people's bodies were able to fight it off. I've heard many other people say that they had some discomfort and felt ill a few days after drinking the cider - including the girl's parents. Although these cases do not require hospitalization, and are too minor to be publicized, they still all have one thing in common, and one thing only: e.coli symptoms after drinking the cider.

That being said - why not just name the business? I don't think there is any reason to stop patronizing it. Their primary business is not apple cider, and I would highly doubt they still are serving it. I just wish the Health Dep't would bring forward some of these details so people don't have to worry about being exposed to e. coli anymore. "

" You are hilarious!!! I don't think there is any way to pastuerize what is being served at a Bukkake Festival. For those of you who didn't catch what he/she said, DO NOT SEARCH IT ON YOUR COMPUTER. "

" This is one reason I moved from Keokuk!!! People here the last few years have really become very uncaring!!! April I am so sorry for your childs illness. I also must tell you how sorry I am you have to hear people like ALL OF YOU NEED TO READ THE NEWS CLOSER, SEPTIC and OKAYthat seem to think you would make up your childs illness. But there are those of us who do care and wish you and your child the best!!! Please do not worry about the few uncaring people that you may hear from they are not worth your time!!! "

" "Oh I must apologize for one thing Okay, I forgot to add this "your right okay " person who thinks the holocaust is a RUMOR. He to is cold and heartless like you and deserves to be pointed out too. Why don't the two of you forget your own selfish pride and care about the sick CHILD." "

" "Okay your are a CRUEL COLD HEARTED person. I suppose you are saying that APRIL is lieing about her child having E.coli. Heartless self centered people like you are the problem with this world. You having your feelings hurt which is obvious by some other people is more important than compassion for this child that has become ill. I don't care about your hurt feelings as in my previous email my concern are the sick. This child being sick is not a RUMOR when will you accept that or do you perhaps have some ownership in the business that caused this! "

" "okay you are right people think someting happened and they dont really no. i no the holocaust never happened either and people keep trying to say it did.im with you okay i want to see it to believe it. "

" I think the important thing to keep in mind is that just because a couple, and I stress a couple, of children developed this condition, that does not mean that it came from any particular business. It can come from the home too, it can come from a lot of places. I got it in college and still to this day don't know where I got it from as no one else was sickened and there was no "epidemic." I just find it very hard to believe that there is a major problem with cider at a pumpkin patch that hundreds of children visited and drank cider at and only a couple (that we know of so far) are sick. I'd think if their cider was contaminated, a lot more children would be ill. I'm not saying that because it is only a couple of children it's no big deal, it's a very big deal for them and their families of course, but I'm saying that it doesn't seem to be an "epidemic" and just seems strange to me that only a couple would be sickened. The truth is, we may never know where they got it from and people seem to forget that you can get this kind of thing anywhere...at home, at a friend's house, at school, in a restaurant, etc etc etc. Though there are two kids with it at the same time, that does not mean at all that they contracted it from the same source. There ARE such things as coincidences and even if both of these children did visit the same pumpkin patch, that does not mean that they got infected there. "

" I have 2 children one 7 and the other 2.
I can confirm that my 7 year old had ecoli!
We visited the pumpkin patch on the 5th of oct and on Oct 12 my child was in Burlington ER with Bloody diarhea and sever stomach cramps and chills! I was called on the following Thurs to be told by our Dr. she had ecoli.
The Des Moines Co. Health Department contacted me on Friday for all the questions.
My point, yes its out there and I strongly believe it came from the cider. Did anyone else look at those apples?
I am thanking god my child is okay and that my 2 year old never got it. "

" AGAIN. FACTS are something that are supported by actual EVIDENCE. As far as being put in my place, well the truth is, that is far from what has actually happened. Pearl Harbor has factual evidence to back it up. As well as Kennedys assassination. FACTUAL evidence. Look it up sometime. You might be surprised as to what actual facts and evidence are. So that comparison is weak at best. You people find it funny that I decide to look at facts and not talk? AS I HAVE SAID before, anybody can say all they want over the internet, but a friend of a friend of a friend does not make it true. If your sons friend is afraid to provide evidence for his claims, then why bring up them to begin with? Sorry I cannot be put in my place, by people who have no understanding of what FACTS and EVIDENCE actually mean. But alas, your responses will be more of the same one liners, personal attacks, and such that most people resort to when they have been discredited. Keep them coming. Its useless to argue with close minded people such as yourselves. Put in my place? Hardly.

All of you need to watch the news closer wrote on Oct 19, 2008 1:05 PM:
" They have STATED a business name on the local KQHA news! Kathy's Pumpkin Patch is open for business.
We heard viewer concerns about Kathy's Pumpkin Patch in Donnellson, Iowa, particularly that it had been shut down by the Lee County Health Department. DONNELLSON, IA -- We heard viewer concerns about Kathy's Pumpkin Patch in Donnellson, Iowa, particularly that it had been shut down by the Lee County Health Department.
We called the health department to get some answers for this KHQA FactFinder Report. We spoke to Julie Schilling, an administrator for the Lee County Health Department.
She told us the department is investigating a possible case of E.Coli in Lee County. Schilling told us the case is not linked to Kathy's Pumpkin Patch, in fact no source has been identified.
She also confirmed that the pumpkin patch was never closed, nor was it asked to shut down. The E.coli case was reported Tuesday.
So far, the health department is waiting for lab results. Schilling says the steps being taken are proper procedure.
"What we do, is we do contact the family and the individual to ask about sources, possible sources, where the person was at, and what they had to eat and drink in a period of time," said Schilling. "




Wasn't there a RUMOR presented as FACT about Kathys pumpkin patch being closed down? About this business being the cause of an E. Coli case? Wow I am sure glad I took the person who stated this as FACT and not looked into it myself. Its needs to be made public as soon as a source is found. "

" Well it looks like that Okay was put in his place. Now the important thing is the children. I don't think people say their child is in the hospital if the aren't. I just hope and pray that this child or any other that has become ill will get better soon. "

" I'm very sorry to hear about the poor children. I hope they are okay soon. Cider is a common carrier of food-borne illnesses in Japan where it is used in various celebrations. At last year's Kyoto Bukkake Festival dozens of party goers grew ill from the various juices being served. Its wise not to drink juices unless they have been pasteurised. All the best to the sick ones. "

" Excuse me All you need...... what you really need is to see is your precious child hanging to life with so many tubes coming out of her body and the tubes coming out of the other young kid's body, standing paitently waiting for three hours while their blood runs through a dialysis machine hoping an praying that the kidneys wake up and start working without any long term damage, and know that the one common link between these children is one simple drink of juice from the same place. What happend to public safety? Is there not a sence of alarm knowing so many children and schools have visited this place and if there is any question or suspicion, why not alert the public that there may be the possibility if they drank the juice and if there is any symptoms to have it checked out before they too are in intensive care hanging on for dear life? It is not an attact on a local business, it is just a call for protection of our children. Is this a cover up by the LCHD for not doing their job properly? Are they afraid of anorchy? Why has there not been a follow up to the LCHD lab test? Is this buacracy in action? How many kids in the Children's Hospital in Iowa City does it take for it not to be a rumor? "

" They have STATED a business name on the local KQHA news! Kathy's Pumpkin Patch is open for business.
We heard viewer concerns about Kathy's Pumpkin Patch in Donnellson, Iowa, particularly that it had been shut down by the Lee County Health Department. DONNELLSON, IA -- We heard viewer concerns about Kathy's Pumpkin Patch in Donnellson, Iowa, particularly that it had been shut down by the Lee County Health Department.
We called the health department to get some answers for this KHQA FactFinder Report. We spoke to Julie Schilling, an administrator for the Lee County Health Department.
She told us the department is investigating a possible case of E.Coli in Lee County. Schilling told us the case is not linked to Kathy's Pumpkin Patch, in fact no source has been identified.
She also confirmed that the pumpkin patch was never closed, nor was it asked to shut down. The E.coli case was reported Tuesday.
So far, the health department is waiting for lab results. Schilling says the steps being taken are proper procedure.
"What we do, is we do contact the family and the individual to ask about sources, possible sources, where the person was at, and what they had to eat and drink in a period of time," said Schilling. "

" HEY OKAY DID YOU HEAR THAT A SECRET SERVICE AGENT TOLD A DOCTOR WHO TOLD A NURSE WHO TOLD A REPORTER WHO CALLED A SECRETARY IN HIS TELEVISION STATION WHO TOLD THE STATION MANAGER WHO TOLD WALTER CRONKITE WHO TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT JFK HAD BEEN SHOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT SINCE YOU AND I I WEREN'T THERE IT'S JUST A RUMOR, SO IT NEVER REALLY HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" DO YOU KNOW THE MOON LANDING WAS REALLY FILMED HERE ON EARTH AND NEVER REALLY TOOK PLACE??????????????????????? THE LANDING CAN'T HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT A RUMOR BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE TO HAVE SEEN THEM LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THOSE PARENTS AREN'T REALLY IN IOWA CITY WITH THEIR CHILD!!!!!!!!! I MEAN YOU AREN'T THERE WITH THEM SO THAT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" Yeap you are the one and the comment I made you didn't even read sometimes people can't say how they know something for a fact because they may not want to cause problems in their own family or have their boss know they said something and put their job on the line. Just because you think something is a rumor and not fact does not mean it is not fact! And this was in response to another CLOSED minded individual like you who thinks EVERYTHING is a rumor and not true!! So go ahead and live in your little closed minded world!! Oh by the way I heard that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor which is what led us into World War two! But I wasn't there so how can I say it really happened, just FDR said so, so it's probably just a rumor! "

" YOU SOUND wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:25 AM:
" SCEPTIC you sound like somebody that was on a thread about candidites and taxes! They could not believe that anybody would think something was true when a comment like my son has afriend who knows this about somebody!!! Did you ever think it might just be a cover for somebody becuase actually they were saying something about their own friend, or a family member was involved so they wanted to diguise their connection, and the information they gave was ABSOLUTE FACT that they knew for a FACT, they just didn't want to start problems with a friend or family member!!! So just because you say it is only a rumor does not mean it is not really FACT!!! "

Wow, I come into an E.Coli thread and already its off topic. AGAIN my sons friend knows something about somebody is AGAIN not a fact. How do we know your sons friend is not lying? Point being anybody over the internet can say that they know a guy who knows such and such.

Anyways, back on the actual topic in this article. I personally would like to know all that is known by all involved in this article. If this is true, it needs to be reported in detail. With FACTS. Some of us would like to know since, this can be spread in certain situations. "

" Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and thier families, and hope whatever the source is is found and taken care of. Regardless of the cause and whatever the cause I am sure it was unintentional and those involved will feel terrible as it is whether they were responsible or not. "

" We all have a need to know that type of information so that we may decide not to take our children there or atleast not let them eat or drink anything. What if you were a parent of a kid who had recently been there and you weren't informed and your child got exctremely sick? I think you'd change your tune. Clearly if Kathy closed there is reason to be concerned. When it comes to health and our children we all have the rite to be informed of any possible harm that could come to them. Call it nosey all you want. If I'm doing something to make my child's life safer I will do it at any cost. "

" I am a bit confused by this situation. On Tuesday I saw a copy of this email and was concerned since a group of children including my own had just attended the place that was mentioned in the email 3 days earlier. I chose to call the particular business listed in the email to confirm if they had been shut down, because if this was not true i did not want to go around spreading rumors, yet I did want to make other parents aware of this as a precautionary measure. The owner told me that they were closed and that any questions I had, it would be best to call the LCHD. Since the owner confirmed the closing of there business, I decided it best to make the other parents aware and pass along the LCHD #. Very interesting that the business said one thing, yet the newspaper was told something else. "

" Unless you live under a rock it is all over where he got it and who it is I got a text message about it and have no clue who the person is that sent it to me. Said Althide boy from Warsaw got E.coli from Kathy's pumpkin Patch and is in Iowa City Hospital. The next day I got another saying 3 more kids have E.coli and got it from applesider at Kathy's Pumpkin patch. Watch your children if you have been there. "

" A few things to point out for you:
1) It is none of your business who the child is, they do not need anything from you and if you had the need or right to know then you already would know.
2) The names of the business or businesses that "might" have been are also none of your business. A story like this with even just a hint of potential harm could be devastating to a business that actually did nothing wrong. People would panic and overreact. The least thing they would do is not patronize the business and some people would even go so far as to do harm to them to try and close the business.
3) The follow-up is being done and the information that needs to be made public will be made public when it is proven that there is a risk, not just from conjecture and rumor.
4) The facts have been confirmed, they just did not see a need to tell you until they have something that needs to be said to the public.
Think about this... If this was your child or your business that was involved would you want it spread around, would you want people thinking your business was the cause when you actually did nothing wrong, would you want the public hounding your child to find out because they just gotta know when it is none of their business. And saying that this is shoddy journalism is just your meger attempt to "lash out" because of your "need" to know everything that is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!!!! Just for the record, I am involved on both sides of the issue, I know the family of the child in Iowa city and I know everywhere that he may have been to contract the virus. The LCHD and the HCHD as well as the CDC are all involved in the investigation, They have spent a lot of time on this investigation and have a lot of information that they are going over! I don't know why they did not contact you... Oh what a minute, yes I do, they must think that it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS too. "

" SCEPTIC you sound like somebody that was on a thread about candidites and taxes! They could not believe that anybody would think something was true when a comment like my son has afriend who knows this about somebody!!! Did you ever think it might just be a cover for somebody becuase actually they were saying something about their own friend, or a family member was involved so they wanted to diguise their connection, and the information they gave was ABSOLUTE FACT that they knew for a FACT, they just didn't want to start problems with a friend or family member!!! So just because you say it is only a rumor does not mean it is not really FACT!!! "

" Nothing "shoddy" about this, the writer is just reporting that there is an email circulating concerning this, the contents of that email and then what is actually KNOWN concerning the assertions in the email, so that anyone that has read this email knows the FACTS known (or being released by the Health Dept.) so far concerning the contents of it...that it is being investigated, that there are no businesses at this time being shut down, etc.

What would be shoddy journalism and irresponsible is if the writer had written this article as if the email was known fact and not included what the health dept. has released. And it is not unusual for details like the name of someone, especially a juvenile, to not be released and it isn't unusual to not name a business until more facts are known and substantiated and/or the business is closed. As for followup and the info being confirmed, that is what the writer is saying, that regardless of this email circulating, none of this has been confirmed so no one should get paranoid about it at this point and the followup is currently being done by the health dept. as it is currently investigating this claim.

Reporting "unsubstantiated rumors" is sometimes necessary....there is nothing wrong with reporting that a rumor exists as long as the known facts are given because first, it is likely that the rumor will get around quickly and most will hear about it thus such a rumor may have serious and negative implications for a person or business. Reporting what is known fact so far can help to alleviate the negative effects of a rumor far better than saying nothing about it and letting the rumor run rampant with no facts to calm the fears of the people who hear about it. "

" Also heard there was 3 cases reported at the Burlington hospital. Any truth to this? "

" Apparently it isn't just a rumor, since both the Lee and Hancock County health departments admit they are investigating. But I agree that there isn't nearly enough info in this article! While the officials "investigate," other people may be put at risk because we have no way of knowing where these two kids may have gotten infected. Whose @$$ is being covered here? Is this another example of the "old boys' network": officials making sure their friends are protected while everyone else can go hang? Sheesh. "

" "An e-mail circulating Wednesday said the writer had a friend whose 7-year-old was on dialysis at an Iowa City hospital after sampling cider at a Lee County business. The e-mail added that a boy from Warsaw, Ill., also was hospitalized."

Since when is reporting unsubstantiated rumors responsible journalism?

Who is this person? Who is the friend? Who is the child? Which business?
Has there been any followup? Has any of this been confirmed?

This is just shoddy journalism. "