Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced it has ended its investigation into the Memorial Day STEC outbreak without conclusively linking the illnesses to Lake Anna.
As previously reported, there were 25 Shinga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) cases that appeared linked to visits to Lake Anna around Memorial Day weekend. Five of those cases resulted in children being hospitalized, and the incidents prompted VDH to launch an investigation that included numerous rounds of water testing from various areas around the lake.
In its June 20th update, VDH said the lake water “the likely source” of the infections.
However, yesterday, July 2nd, VDH said the most recent testing of water samples collected from Lake Anna did not detect the presence of STEC.
VDH said fecal bacteria results for the water samples did not show levels that typically rise to public health concern. And the department added that it was not able to identify the source of the bacteria in the water.
However, VDH has noted that the testing done by Virginia’s Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) has limitations.
“Water testing can provide clues about the water environment and level of general fecal contamination at a point in time, but they are not specific to all types of bacteria that can cause illness,” the department stated.
VDH also acknowledged, “Water testing is a snapshot in time and at a specific location. The samples used for STEC testing were collected about four weeks after the Memorial Day Weekend and might not reflect the water environment during the holiday weekend. These results also cannot predict future risk.”
Although the investigation is over, VDH said it will conduct enhanced public health surveillance through July 17 due to the anticipated 4th of July celebrations.
The health authority also reminded the public that there is a swimming advisory in effect for the upper of North Anna Branch of Lake Anna in Louisa County due to harmful algal blooms, which aren’t related to the STEC outbreak.
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