Tulsa child affected by bacteria, same that killed Missouri infant

A Tulsa County child infected from the same type of bacteria that caused a Missouri child's death earlier this month is doing fine.

The child suffered from an illness caused by cronobacter sakazukii. Though it has been widely reported that the bacteria was found in the Missouri child's Enfamil, a representative of Mead Johnson, Enfamil's parent company, told KRMG there had not been any tests that had conclusively proven the bacteria was found in the child's formula.

The Missouri child was a 10-day-old boy.

Larry Weatherford, with the Oklahoma Department of Health, says the Tulsa child did not consume Enfamil.

"This type of bacteria wouldn't be from any one product. It could be from any number of sources," he said.

Weatherford told us the infection might have even come from the environment. He says the Tulsa child's illness happened before the Missouri death.

As far as the exact source, Health Department officials are not speculating, at least not publicly.

"There's no reason to begin speculating on what might or might not have caused it. The sources could be so many. Singling out any one product line would be irresponsible."

Weatherford told us that there was no pattern to follow in the Tulsa case because it is just that- a single case. We asked if the child had consumed another brand of formula.

"It's not unusual for various types of bacterial infections to occur. Unless there's a pattern there's no need for releasing that information, unless you can provide people with a path to follow in terms of avoiding the illness."