Number of St. Louis E. coli cases at 26

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The number of E. coli cases in the St. Louis area is now at 26, and health officials are looking at more items taken from a grocery chain's salad bar.

Health officials have confirmed 26 cases of the illness. Tests are still pending on the others. The state so far has received 51 samples for testing.

No deaths or life-threatening illnesses have been reported since the first cases were reported last week in St. Louis city and St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County, Ill.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the state of Missouri has received 38 samples from five Schnucks Market stores. The samples included broccoli, deviled eggs, hard boiled eggs, pineapple, carrots, radishes, zucchini, red onions, along with salad dressings.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com