Missouri State Health Department Refuses to Talk About St. Louis E. Coli Outbreak

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Intro:	Missouri State Health Department officials met behind closed doors - refusing to talk about the E. coli outbreak facing the state's largest city.
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Description: "Well I'm here outside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services where I've been waiting for about three hours. And the state is still refusing to talk to KMOX about the E. coli outbreak in St. Louis. No one has been available all day and no one will be available all night, is what they say."

After the office closed, the department sent out a press release that says the state has "dispatched additional investigators."

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Matt Evans.

Intro:	The Missouri Health Department refused to talk to KMOX about the dangerous E. coli outbreak facing St. Louis - even after one reporter waited for three hours.
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Description: "I'm standing outside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - where I've been for about three hours - and the state is still refusing to talk to KMOX about the E. coli outbreak in St. Louis and are even refusing interviews."

The department sent out a press release after the office closed that says the state "dispatched additional investigators." While the state wouldn't talk, a spokesperson for the St. Louis County Health Department says this E. coli strain is rare and one of the "most serious."

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Matt Evans.

Intro:	Missouri Health Department officials refused to makes themselves available to talk about the E. coli outbreak in St. Louis.
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Description: "Nearly three hours of waiting has turned up nothing. I'm outside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services where the state is still refusing to talk to us about the E. coli outbreak in St. Louis."

After the offices closed, the department issued a press release saying the state has "dispatched additional investigators."

The E. coli outbreak has sickened more than 20 people and hospitalized at least nine in the St. Louis metro area.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Matt Evans.

Intro:	Scientists from the Federal Center for Disease Control will be arriving in St. Louis by the end of the day Saturday because of the E. coli outbreak facing the area.
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Wrap: The E. coli outbreak is serious enough to call in federal help from the CDC. That announcement came from a press release issued after the Missouri Health Department offices closed.

The scientists will be in the region to research the rare strain that is being called one of the "most serious." A spokesperson from the St. Louis County Health Department says a likely cause is from meat and produce at supermarkets.

Health officials urge anyone who is experiencing severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, or nausea to seek medical attention.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Matt Evans.