E. coli outbreak hospitalizes 40 in Okla.

TULSA, Okla., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- An outbreak of E. coli is likely to blame for the hospitalization of 40 people in Tulsa, Okla., officials say.

St. Francis Hospital pediatric intensive care worker Dr. William Banner said 13 children have shown signs of the bacterial infection along with 27 adults as hospital officials struggle to minimize the damage caused by E. coli, the Tulsa World said Wednesday.

The Children's Hospital official said two other children had been sent to Oklahoma City for treatment, while three children are suffering from kidney failure as a result of the suspected infection.

"We are concerned about the fourth child needing dialysis at some point," Banner said of a child admitted to the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit.

While state health officials have yet to confirm the suspected E. coli outbreak, they said many of the people, including a 26-year-old who died Sunday, with the disease ate at a restaurant in nearby Locust Grove, Okla. The World said the restaurant passed a surprise health inspection.