Public Health -- Dayton & Montgomery County officials on Monday afternoon confirmed that it was an E. coli outbreak that hit a weekend picnic in Germantown where as many as 10 people reportedly became ill.

Bill Wharton, spokesman for the health department, said 200 to 300 people attended an annual customer appreciation picnic at Neff's Lawn Care, at 9400 Eckhart Road, and about 10 of them became ill.

As many as six were hospitalized, Wharton said.

He said he has not been made aware of any cases that were considered life-threatening. Some of the symptoms were consistent with those of E.coli, he said. This included reports bloody diarrhea.

According to WebMD.com, children are more likely than adults to develop symptoms of the E. coli infection. Most people with the infection will have:

* Severe stomach cramps and stomach tenderness.
* Diarrhea, watery at first, but often becoming very bloody.
* Nausea and vomiting.

Some people infected with the bacteria do not notice any symptoms. They may spread the bacteria to others without knowing it.

The health department is working with Neff's, area hospitals and the Ohio Department of Health. If anyone else became ill afterward and would like consultation, they are urged to call the health department at (937) 225-4460.