UPDATE 2-Michigan, Ohio E. coli oubreaks linked-officials

(Recasts, adds details from CDC, Kroger)

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO, June 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday outbreaks of E. coli bacteria in Michigan and Ohio are linked, and health officials in both states suspect the outbreak was caused by ground beef.

The E. coli scare comes as U.S. health authorities are struggling to find the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 550 people.

Health officials in Michigan said late Tuesday more than half of the 15 people in the state with confirmed E. coli cases reported purchasing ground beef from Kroger Food Stores (KR.N), the largest U.S. grocery chain.

"We were notified today that E. coli illnesses reported in Michigan and Ohio have been linked to products purchased in some of our stores in those states," said Kroger spokeswoman Meghan Glynn in an e-mail.

She said the illnesses were reported between May 31 and June 8. "Any ground beef sold during that period is no longer available in our stores," Glynn said.

Glynn said Ohio and Michigan health authorities have not identified the supplier or the specific type of ground beef that caused the illnesses.

"We purchase our ground beef from major suppliers in the industry and we are working with federal, state and local agencies to identify the supplier," she said.

As of late Monday, the CDC said it had confirmed 24 cases of E. coli that shared the same genetic fingerprint and characteristics, indicating they were related.

Of those 24, the CDC said 11 cases were reported in Michigan and 13 in Ohio. Fourteen people have have been hospitalized, and one has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome, the CDC said. No deaths have been reported.

Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio health department, said there are now 17 cases in Ohio and the state is investigating two additional probable cases.

Michigan health officials said there are 15 confirmed cases that are genetically linked and 10 of those people have been hospitalized.

FULL COOPERATION

They said Kroger is cooperating fully with state and federal investigators. Michigan officials are still investigating and said other grocery outlets may be identified.

Kroger's spokeswoman said concerned customers in Michigan and Ohio, especially near the cities of Columbus and Toledo, should discard any ground beef in their freezers purchased in late May or early June. Glynn said Kroger will refund their purchase price.