At least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially contaminated ground beef, federal health officials said.

Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after state agriculture officials in Minnesota reported several illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections.

So far, no illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota, according to the US Agriculture Department. People fell ill between November 2 and November 10. The investigation is ongoing.

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in the environment, including water, food, and in the intestines of humans and animals. There are many kinds of harmless E. coli, but a few types can make people seriously ill.

Symptoms usually appear quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. It can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. The infection can cause a type of severe kidney damage, especially in children younger than 5. E. coli poisoning in young children requires immediate medical attention.

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