CLAYTON (KMOX) – Saint Louis County Health officials are alerting health care professionals of an E. Coli outbreak.

So far 14 cases have been reported.

“This is a foodborne illness that’s a very serious disease that can be life threatening,” Health department spokesman John Shelton. “Parents should be particularly vigilant if their children have bloody diarrhea. Any child with that should be taken immediately to a hospital emergency room.”

Shelton says so far, the source of the outbreak is unknown. People from all over St. Louis County have become ill and it ranges in age from four to 94 years old.

Saint Louis County Health officials hope to have the source of the E. Coli outbreak within 24-hours.

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