The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is urging New Hampshire residents not to eat ground beef recently recalled due to possible contamination with O157:H7 E.coli bacteria.

The bacteria produce a toxin that's potentially deadly to people, especially young children and seniors. Three New Hampshire residents have been hospitalized because of illness suspected of being linked to the contaminated beef; one patient died of complications.

The meat has been sold statewide. Health officials ask residents to review all the information about the recall, then check their refrigerators and freezers for affected products and throw them away.

Each package containing recalled beef bears the number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label.

Symptoms of E. coli illness include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. If you have symptoms, call your doctor. Most people recover within 10 days, but a small percentage of people become extremely ill, with symptoms including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by the destruction of red blood cells and kidney failure. Most people recover from HUS, but it can be fatal.

For more information about this recall and a full list of recalled products, visit the USDA recall site.

If you have questions, call the DHHS Division of Public Health Services, Communicable Disease Control Section at 271-4496 or 1-800-852-3345 x4496.

Labels of recently recalled ground-beef products

Information on handling, storing, and preparing ground beef

Photo: yoppy, Some rights reserved.