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Ten of those affected in Michigan are in hospital. It appears all of the cases are linked by ground beef purchased at the Kroger grocery chain. Kroger Food Stores are the largest U.S. grocery chain.

A sample by one of those who have been infected tested positive for the E. coli virus at the Michigan agricultural lab. That sample was forwarded to the Ohio lab to test for genetic fingerprinting.

E.coli is most often a result of contaminated beef.

"It is a multi-state outbreak involving both Ohio and Michigan," said Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health.